No-bake Star Crunch Cookies are just like the Little Debbie Star Crunch Cookies you grew up eating. Learn how to make your favorite nostalgic childhood snack.
Chewy cookies are full of caramel, peanut butter, and crispy rice cereal in each bite. And my boys are going crazy to get their hands on this recipe.
This is a copycat recipe and so fun to make and bring back childhood memories.
I am a sucker for finding favorite desserts of my childhood and recreating them at home. You might love my cosmic brownie cookies, they are a twist to the classic Cosmic Brownie from Little Debbie!
Or whip up a batch of my Twix cookies! They are my favorite candy bar. You get all the flavors of a caramel Twix but in cookie form! Those are a few of our favorite sweet treats right now.
Now what I love about this homemade star crunch, is that it is a no bake recipe. Creamy milk chocolate with so many fun added flavors, and the crunch from the Rice Krispies. It just melts in your mouth and soothes that sweet tooth craving.
You control the ingredients you use when making the star crunches, and that is a nice benefit compared to the Little Debbie version.
Which does contain artificial flavors and preservatives. Skip the store and try these Little Debbie cookies at home!
Here are more fun no-bake cookies you might enjoy: Church window cookies, Avalanche cookies, Chocolate snowball cookies, or my Cornflake cookies which are always a huge hit.
Shopping List
Wet Ingredients. Peanut Butter, Coconut Oil, Molasses.
Dry Ingredients. Chocolate Chips, Rice Krispies Cereal.
How to Make Starch Crunch Cookies
Start by preparing a baking sheet by laying down parchment paper. Or if you own a silicone baking mat that works too. You just need a nonstick surface.
I also like to use a large circle cookie cutter to help shape the cookies. The mixture will be soft until it sets so the mixture is easily shaped.
Then in a large microwave-safe bowl, you will heat chocolate chips, peanut butter, oil, and molasses.
Heat for 30-second increments stirring between each heat cycle. You will do this until all the mixture is melted and nice and creamy in consistency.
Then add in the cereal and stir to coat everything together.
Spoon heaping spoonfuls on the baking sheet in a circle form. Press the top flat to help form the shape if you wish
Tip: Use the back of a spoon to press the cookies to make a flat circle. Or you can use a cookie cutter for perfect circles if you want.
Allow the cookies to set up, and then enjoy.
Storing and Freezing
Room Temperature
You can store these star crunch cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Just make sure that you allow the cookies to fully cool before you place them in the container.
Otherwise, condensation can build in the container and cause the cookies to spoil faster. The cookies can store for 1-2 weeks.
Place a piece of parchment paper between layers to help prevent sticking.
Freezing
Want to freeze some of the cookies? Place in a freezer bag or freezer container. Then freeze for 3-4 months. And remember to layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking
Thaw at room temperature when you are ready to eat them!
Once you remove the cookies from the freezer just store cookies at room temperature in a container. Then enjoy this sweet snack when you want.
Substitutes and Variations
Maple Syrup: If you don't have molasses real maple syrup can be used in replace of molasses. It will offer a caramel flavor to the bars as the molasses does.
Cocoa Krispies: Reach for cocoa Rice Krispies instead of classic rice crisp cereal. This will give a chocolate flavor that is enhanced to this star crunch recipe.
Caramel Bits: When you mix in the cereal add in some caramel bits or caramel chips. Stir into the cereal mixture and form cookies. This will add extra crunch and sweetness to the cookies.
Dark Chocolate: If you enjoy dark chocolate consider using dark chocolate chips for mixing into the chocolate mixture. You can do all dark chocolate or if you want to have milk chocolate and the other half dark chocolate.
Pro Tips
Stirring Between Heat Cycles
Make sure that when you are melting the chocolate and molasses mixture in the microwave you heat for short 30-second increments. Then between each heat cycle, you mix it up.
If you don't mix it up, you are going to burn the chocolate, and it will make a mess. You stir to evenly incorporate the ingredients and if there are hot spots when heating you get it mixed around for an even heat.
Double Boiler
If you do not want to use the microwave to melt the chocolate mixture then simply reach for a double boiler. It will take longer for the mixture to melt down but it will work the same.
You just want it to be creamy melted chocolate and the other ingredients are fully incorporated before you add in the crisp rice cereal.
Large Cookie Scoop
To make sure all the cookies are evenly sized you can use a large cookie scoop to place the mixture on the baking sheet. Then use a rubber spatula to help flatten or shape the cookies into circles.
If you don't have a rubber spatula, then spray your spoon with a nonstick cooking spray to help prevent the cookie mixture from sticking to the spoon you are using to shape the homemade Little Debbie snacks.
Have you tried Star Crunch Cookies?
Let me know what you think of this recipe! Tag @bestcookierecipes on social media so I can see how great your cookies turned out! I would also love to read your comments below. Let me know what you think of these cookies. It really does help!
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
I have many kitchen favorites but rest assume these are at the top of my list!
- Kitchen Scale. I use this for accuracy in measuring and it's a life saver when it comes to consistent baking
- Wire Rack for cooling cookies. I like to have at least 2 cooling racks
- Mixing Bowls. A Large Mixing Bowl for mixing ingredients and small and medium mixing bowls for other ingredients
- Cookie Sheet. Most recipes will take 2 batches to bake. It's great to have multiple baking sheets available
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat. Line Cookie Sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up and to prevent sticking.
- Cookie Scoop. A small #60 Cookie Scoop or a Medium Cookie Scoop #50 are great choices for uniform drops of cookie dough.
- Storage Container. An Airtight Container to store cookies or ZipLoc Bags work great too.
- Additional supplies. Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons along with silicone spatula are all helpful
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Star Crunch Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cup Chocolate Chips Milk Chocolate or Semi Sweet
- 1 Cup Peanut Butter Creamy
- ¼ Cup Coconut Oil
- ¼ Cup Molasses or Maple Syrup
- 5 Cup Rice Crispy Cereal
Instructions
- Prepare cookie sheet with parchment paper or line with silicone baking mat. Set aside
- In a large mixing bowl (Microwave safe) combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, coconut oil and molasses. Heat for 30 seconds and then stir mixture.
- Heat mixture for additional 30 seconds and stir. Residual heat should melt all remaining chocolate chips and peanut butter but if additional time is needed heat for 15 seconds and stir. Repeat as needed.
- Add Rice Krispy Cereal into Peanut Butter Chocolate Mixture and stir to coat cereal.
- Spoon large heaping spoonfuls on prepared baking sheet.
- To shape, use back of spoon to press spoonfuls of mixture flat and shape into circles. Use a circle cookie cutter to form perfect circles.
- Allow No Bake Cookies to cool completely.
- Storage: Store cooled No Bake Cookies in sealed container or ZipLoc Bag for up to 1 week. Best if enjoyed within 2-4 days.
Joanne Christoff
This sounds like a great recipe! Is there something that be substituted for Coconut Oil?
Rebecca Johnston
Try using Crisco or Shortening!
Debbie
I never had these, but I think I will make them, but use butter instead of coconut oil.
Rebecca Johnston
Give them a try! Fun little recipe