Take your cereal treats to a whole new level. Instead of marshmallows, coat the crisp rice cereal in caramel, then mold them into adorable Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Starfish and Turtles.
If you've never had a cereal treat coated in caramel, you've got to try these. Whether you make them into cute shapes, like these sea stars and turtles, or not, this recipe is a must.
You'll be happy to know that you wont even need a candy thermometer or fancy equipment to make them. Just grab a saucepan and some plastic sand molds. Ya, know, the kind you use at the beach.
You'll want brand new molds that have been washed well in hot soapy water. Don't worry, they wont actually touch your cereal treats, as you'll line them with plastic wrap, but it's just always a good idea to start with clean molds.
You can use any shape or size mold you like. I chose turtles and starfish. A few years ago, I made an entire cereal treat sand castle using this same technique.
Just like traditional marshmallow cereal treats, they look pretty good plain, but you might want to make them even more exciting by decorating them.
I added some modeling chocolate shells to my turtles and being I made these for my nephew's beach themed graduation party, I topped a few of them with chocolate graduation caps too.
You can use any type of candy or chocolate to make your decorations then attach them using piping gel, corn syrup, melted chocolate, or frosting.
For the animals, even just adding candy eyes makes them look cuter.
Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Starfish and Turtles

- 19 cups 18 ounce box Rice Krispies Cereal
- 2 sticks butter 8 ounces
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 ¾ cups light corn syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Optional-
- decorations: candy eyes modeling chocolate or candies
- edible "glue" use piping gel, corn syrup, chocolate, or frosting
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Pour crisp rice cereal in very large heatproof bowl.
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Cut butter into small pieces.
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Place butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan.
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Heat on medium, stirring as needed, until butter melts and mixture begins to bubble around the edges.
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Place lid on pan for one minute.
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Remove lid and allow to boil for 2 more minutes, without stirring.
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Remove from heat and add sweetened condensed milk, stir to combine.
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Return to medium heat and allow to boil for three minutes.
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Pour over cereal and stir until well combined.
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Let cool for 10 minutes.
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Line plastic molds with plastic wrap.
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Fill molds with cereal.
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Press to compress cereal so that it holds it's shape.
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Un-mold treats and allow to cool completely.
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Decorate, if desired by attaching candies using edible "glue."
If you'd like to see detailed step-by-step tutorial for making the caramel rice krispie treat recipe, check out this Caramel Rice Krispies Treat Sand Castle tutorial.
Also, take a look at my new website, HowToMakeRiceKrispies.com, here you can find all sorts of amazing recipes that are perfect for every party. You can also check out how we taste tested 20 versions of the Rice Krispie Treat recipe to come up with the absolute BEST Rice Krispie Treat Recipe.
You'll see lots of pictures and tips and tricks.
You can find the products needed to make these Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Turtles and Starfish on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)



Once you have the cereal mixture made and cooled, you are ready to create these cute starfish and turtles.
Line your plastic sand molds with plastic wrap, then simply fill the mold with the caramel rice krispie treat mixture.
Press down on the cereal to compress it so that it holds it's shape.
Then pull up on the plastic wrap and pop the treat out of the mold.
Lay the plastic wrap over the mold and repeat.
This recipe makes a lot of treats, but the actual number will depend on the size of your molds.
Use piping gel, corn syrup, melted chocolate, or frosting to attach the candy eyes or any other decorations to your treats.
You can store these for a few weeks in an airtight container.
These treats will make a great addition to your beach or pool party.
They were quite popular at the beach party we had earlier this summer. I loved hearing the party guests talk about how they loved the caramel flavored treats and seeing how quickly they all disappeared.
Embrace the beautiful weather that we are having and make some of these gorgeous and scrumptious Summer Fun Recipes.
If you are hosting a beach part or pool party, you might also like to make some of these other fun summertime treats.
Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Chocolate Beach Pails • Butterscotch Crunch Starfish
Sandcastle Lollipops • Caramel Rice Krispie Turtles • Beach Party Popcorn
Under the Sea Popcorn • Beach Ball Cheesecakes • Under the Sea Gumdrops
Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Starfish • Chocolate Sea Shells • Rice Kripie Treat Dolphins
Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Sugar Coated Sea Horse Cookies • Palm Tree Cookies
If you recreate these Caramel Rice Krispie Treat Starfish or Turtles be sure to link to this post and/or tag @HungryHappenings on Instagram and send me a picture so I can share it in my Readers' Gallery.
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Georganne (LilaLoa)
Oh. My. GOODNESS!!! These sound amazing!!! I'm totally making these as soon as I get some Rice Krispies delivered. 🙂
Beth
You are going to love them! Enjoy. 🙂
The Partiologist
What?? Caramel on RKT? I can't believe I've never had this combo, now I have another way to LOVE a RKT!
Beth
I can't believe you have not had these before. They are AMAZING!!! 🙂
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets
You have created the best of both worlds with the cereal and caramel! And of course you mage them cute too..what a cool turtle treat for the graduation party. 😊
Beth
Thanks, Karen! 🙂