These Rice Krispie treats are like no other—made with salted butter, brown sugar, spiced apple cider, dried apples, and toasted marshmallows (plus the classic cereal, of course). They’re extra-gooey, a little toasty, and perfectly sweet, with real apple flavor and a cinnamon-cider caramel swirl. You’re going to love these—fun to make at any age, and the fall treat for Halloween and Thanksgiving snacking.

I’m deep into fall baking this season, and clearly still on my apple kick. I love pumpkin too (promise a sweet pumpkin recipe is coming next week!), but apples are my favorite. I don’t usually go for marshmallow desserts, but I make an exception for a really good Rice Krispies treat—especially in October.

Every year growing up, my mom would make a couple of batches for school parties. One year we even made a giant pumpkin-shaped Rice Krispie “cake” for my cousin’s birthday. It was so fun—and yes, there was a lot of orange food coloring. Different times!

Point is, I love an occasional fall Rice Krispie, and these are so special. The cider-brown-sugar caramel and chewy dried apples bring cozy autumn flavor, and toasting the marshmallows adds that perfect, lightly smoky depth. Best part? They’re incredibly easy. Mix, press, set—then try not to eat the whole pan!

Here are the Ingredients

• salted butter
• dark brown sugar – preferably organic, I swear it makes a difference!
• apple cider – I like to use a cinnamon-spiced/no sugar-added cider
• mini marshmallows – these melt evenly
• brown rice krispies cereal
• dried apple chips/slices – ideally no added sugar and Granny Smith!
• regular marshmallows

Kitchen Tools Needed 

Ideally, a large pot, something nice and big that you can mix everything together in. And a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Plus a good spatula for stirring.

The steps

Step 1: Make the brown-sugar cider caramel

Use salted butter, dark brown sugar, and apple cider (not vinegar). Add everything to your largest pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in a pinch of flaky sea salt (I always do).

Step 2: Melt in marshmallows, then add cereal + apples

Stir the mini marshmallows into the hot caramel until fully melted and glossy. Fold in the Rice Krispies and the dried apple pieces (I use a 3-oz bag of dried Granny Smiths). It won’t look fancy, but it smells amazing.

Step 3: Toast extra marshmallows

Spread marshmallows on a baking sheet and broil until golden and toasty. Do not walk away—broilers go from white to black in seconds. Gently fold the toasted marshmallows into the cereal mixture; streaks are fine—no need to fully mix.

Step 4: Press and set

Press the mixture into a parchment-lined pan (lightly butter your spatula or hands to prevent sticking). Let it set for at least 30 minutes, then cut into bars. They’ll be extra gooey and a bit messy—that’s the charm.

Looking for easy party desserts? Here are a few ideas: 

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Crinkle Top Brownies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Blondies

Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars

Caramel Butter Cake with Fudgy Chocolate Frosting

Retro-Style Chocolate Sheet Cake

Lastly, if you make these Salted Caramel Apple Rice Krispie Treats, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Elevate rice krispie treats like never before with this unique and flavorful Brown Butter Chai Rice Krispie Treats recipe! Browned butter and our legendary homemade chai spice mix add a warm and comforting flavor to these classic treats — perfect for the fall weather.

PS: I’m also sharing a protein-packed version that uses a whole cup of whey protein powder, and it’s so dang delicious!

I can’t help but put our homemade chai spice on everything from these Chocolate Chai Overnight Oats to this cozy Chai Tea Latte. Our next victim is the brown butter chai rice krispie treats recipe, and woo wee, it’s a flavor party up in here!

You’ll make this recipe just like any other rice krispie treat recipe, except you’ll add in some brown butter and our chai spice mix. It’s the perfect addition to classic rice krispie treats!

1. Salted butter: Adds a savory richness to the treat and pairs perfectly with the warm chai spices.
2. Homemade chai spice: A blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, and cloves screams fall and adds a warm and comforting flavor to this recipe.
3. Marshmallows: We used a regular 12 oz. bag of large marshmallows for this recipe.
4. Rice Krispy cereal: You can’t make rice krispie treats without the classic Rice Krispy cereal!

We used our homemade chai spice, but you’re welcome to use a store-bought version. Just know that the flavor of the chai will determine the flavor of the rice krispie treats!

How to Make Homemade Chai Spice

Not sure where to start when it comes to making your own chai spice blend? Well, whaddya know, we’ve got our own Homemade Chai Spice Mix recipe right here! Here’s the basics on how to make it:

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. ground cardamom
• 2 tsp. ground allspice
• 2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground cloves
• 6 tsp. ground ginger

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. Then add it to your brown butter rice krispie treats recipe!

These rice krispie treats are best when enjoyed within 3-4 days, but can last up to a week if stored in an airtight container at room temperature.