Caramel Marshmallow Rice Krispie Balls Recipe
Growing up we knew when our mom made these Caramel Marshmallow Rice Krispie Balls, Christmas was just around the corner. And after sharing them over a decade ago, these viral marshmallows have been made millions of times now from families all over the world.
- 14 ounces caramels (about 50 wrapped Kraft caramels)
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Tablespoon butter
- 12 ounces marshmallows (large)
- 7 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Pour the Rice Krispies Cereal into a large bowl and set both aside. Insert a toothpick or skewer into each marshmallow and unwrap the caramels.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the caramels sweetened condensed milk, and butter. Stir constantly until smooth and creamy (about 8-10 minutes).
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the caramel cool slightly (about 2-3 minutes). The short rest matters! Dipping marshmallows immediately is the most common reason marshmallows melt or slide off the toothpick.
- Working one marshmallow at a time, dip it into the caramel, turning to coat completely. Tap off the excess, then immediately roll it in the Rice Krispies cereal. The caramel sets up fast, so coat each one right away rather than dipping a batch first.
- Place each one on the prepared baking sheet and gently twist out the toothpick.
- Let them set at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving or storing.
With just a handful of ingredients, you can have a sweet, no-bake treat that tastes like holiday nostalgia. They’re made by dipping chewy, whole marshmallows in gooey caramel, then rolling them in crunchy Rice Krispies cereal. Whether you need them for a holiday party, movie night, or a neighborhood gift, during the holiday season, they’ll be gone in a flash.
Reader review: “Oh my GONE. GREAT recipe…we rolled them in crushed pistachios, let set up a few minutes then dipped back into the Carmel, then rolled in crushed rice Krispies. Let set up a few minutes. Dipped into melted white or dark chocolate…Best Recipe yet. Thank You!!!” -Laura.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only 5 ingredients. All you need is wrapped caramels, sweetened condensed milk, butter, marshmallows, and Rice Krispies cereal.
- No oven required. When your oven is already being used for holiday cooking, make these on the stovetop instead.
- Genuine nostalgic recipe. Readers have reported that they’ve been making this recipe for generations, too!
- Freezes great. Make a big batch before the holiday rush begins!
What People Call These
This recipe has been around for ages, and it goes by a lot of names. Long-time readers have shared that their families have called these “Goofballs,” “Pocupine Balls,” or “Caramellows.” Does your family have a name for these? We’d love to hear it in the comments below!
