Swap in Cap'n Crunch cereal for classic crisped rice in these Captain Crunch Treats! It's so fun to use different flavor varieties to make these tasty no-bake cereal bars, from colorful berries to a chocolate peanut butter version.
This recipe has been updated in February 2023 with new photos and slight recipe improvements from its initial publish date in March 2014.
Rice Krispies treats are a childhood favorite and for good reason! Crunchy, sweet, and chewy, they've got it all working. And they're no-bake, to boot.
I remember the exact moment my worldview of these beloved marshmallow cereal bars expanded. One day my college campus dining hall had a new rainbow-colored addition to their desserts section: cereal treats with cereals other than Rice Krispies.
I'm pretty sure the cereal they used that day was Trix, but the possibility of making these bars with options beyond crisped rice was too intriguing to pass up. I started making these Captain Crunch treats not long after and they've become a family favorite - for kids and adults alike.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- With a bit more butter than the official "Krispies treats" recipe dictates, these Cap'n Crunch treats also include vanilla extract and salt for a very well-rounded flavor.
- There's no getting around it: this cereal may or may not have a reputation for being rough on the roof of your mouth. Reserving some marshmallows to mix in with the cereal at the end leaves pillow-y soft and squishy bursts throughout to soften your biting experience.
- It's super easy to switch up variations by using different varieties of Cap'n Crunch: Original, Berries, All Berries, or Peanut Butter.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cap'n Crunch: Any variety works for these treats, but I will usually go for the "with Berries" type for the fun pops of color. Peanut butter works with the addition of cocoa powder and chocolate chips (recipe also below).
- Marshmallows: Classic! Use the mini size as they melt more quickly than jumbo.
- Butter: Adds richness. Salted butter can be used if you omit the added salt.
- Vanilla Extract: A little bit makes these Captain Crunch treats taste more fancy and dessert-like.
- Salt: Counters the sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over low-medium heat. Add marshmallows and heat until they lose their shapes and melt.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and salt off the heat, then stir in the cereal and reserved marshmallows.
- Press cereal mixture into a parchment-lined 9-inch square baking dish until it's in an even layer.
- Let it sit at room temperature until completely hardened and cooled, about one hour.
- Slice Captain Crunch treats into pieces with a sharp knife. Pictured are nine large squares, but you can also slice them into 12 or 16 pieces.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Variation
Looking for a chocolate fix? It's SO easy to switch up the flavor of these Cap'n Crunch Treats and make a chocolate peanut butter variety. My household couldn't decide on a favorite.
To make chocolate peanut butter Captain Crunch treats, you'll need all of the base ingredients, plus two extra:
- Use Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch
- Add ⅓ cup chocolate chips (semisweet, milk, or dark all good)
- Add ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process fine)
Follow the same procedure as the base recipe, adding the chocolate chips and cocoa powder at the same time you do the vanilla extract and salt (once the pot is off the heat).
The chocolate chips will melt and give another level of chocolate-y depth to the marshmallow mixture. This coats the peanut butter cereal to result in a nicely-balanced PB and chocolate cereal bar that toes the line between snack and dessert perfectly.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use Fresh Marshmallows - I'm guilty of stashing some away in my pantry for months so I'll always have some on hand for spur-of-the-moment cereal treats. However as time goes by they harden, lose their sweet aroma, and don't melt as easily. Using fairly freshly-purchased marshmallows make these Captain Crunch treats extra delicious.
- Pan Size - While some marshmallow cereal treat recipes call for a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, I prefer to make taller bars by using a 9-inch square baking dish. That said, use the larger size if you prefer thinner bars.
- Parchment Paper - The marshmallow mixture is sticky, so this is necessary in order to cleanly lift the treats out of the pan for slicing. To get your sheet of parchment to easily lay in the pan, really crinkle and scrunch it up, then unfold it. It should now mold more easily into the pan size.
Related Recipes
- Peanut Butter Cereal Bars - these use Cheerios and honey.
- Toasted Coconut Matcha Rice Krispies Treats - slightly green-hued with delicious toasted coconut flavor.
- Coconut Quinoa Granola Bars - lots going on here, including crisped rice cereal for some crunch.
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating in the recipe card and/or a comment review below!
Captain Crunch Treats
Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter
- 1 10.5-ounce (297g) bag mini marshmallows divided
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 6 cups (220g) Cap'n Crunch cereal your favorite variety
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
- Prep your ingredients so they're portioned out and ready to go once the recipe begins. Set aside 1 cup of the mini marshmallows.
- Add butter to a large pot set on the stove over low-medium heat. Once it melts, add all of the marshmallows (except for the 1 cup set aside). Stir as they expand and lose their shape. Continue until the marshmallows are just melted.
- Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Working in a few batches, add the cereal and reserved 1 cup of marshmallows and stir until evenly combined.
- Turn out cereal treat mixture into the lined pan. Using slightly wet hands, a greased spatula, or the slick side of a butter wrapper, lightly press the mixture into an even layer. Try not to use a lot of force to press it in and condense it as this can make the bars dense.
- Let the bars cool down and set before lifting out of the pan and slicing into treats (this will take about 1 hour). These treats are best served fresh the same day or the next day, but will stay for several days in an air-tight container at room temperature.
Alyssa says
Thanks, Helen! Powdered PB is a new thing to me (saw it on the shelf at Target and couldn't resist), but I must say I love it! There are directions on the jar to add a bit of water and mix for a makeshift peanut butter, but I haven't attempted that. I've just been adding it to my baking (and marshmallow/butter melting) and it's working out great! 🙂
Alyssa says
Haha I definitely overcompensated for awhile when I started eating PB again, that's for sure! Thanks Chelsea!
Alyssa says
Thanks! And wow, definitely doesn't sound like you're lacking on food limitations! (and I'm such a sucker for fried rice, too! haha). Hold onto chocolate + PB tight! 🙂
Alyssa says
I am becoming obsessed with powdered PB! It certainly gives these treats a little extra oomph. 🙂
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
YOU MADE A TREAT WITH CAP'N CRUNCH!? you are officially winning at life sista
Alyssa says
Haha love me some cap'n crunch! 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks! 🙂
Alyssa says
My family gobbled these up in no time! 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks! I've totally been subbing in tea for soda, but cutting down on my artificial sweetener intake (diet soda) was my main reasoning, so I'll take a chamomile tea any day! Or a chai in the afternoon. Or a black tea in the late morning...
Alyssa says
Thanks Kristi! 🙂 Giving up PB was a testament to my willpower if nothing else. I remember the first PB thing I ate after five years was a Reese's peanut butter cup, and I savored that baby BIG TIME.