caramel cornflake bars;

These caramel cornflake bars are gooey, crunchy, and chocolatey. All you could ever want in a dessert bar! Think Rice Krispies treats, but with big flaky cornflakes and extra caramel goodness! When you bite into a bar, the cornflakes are crispy and the marshmallow holding it together is gooey. And of course, a thin layer of chocolate on top makes the whole thing come together.

The first time I made these caramel cornflake bars, it was really just to use up some random odds and in my pantry. Slightly stale cornflakes and homemade caramel crunch marshmallows. I just kinda made it up as I went along, but guys, they were so good. So good I contemplated whipping up another batch the next week.

But whipping up a batch of homemade marshmallows takes a little elbow grease and dedication. Homemade caramel crunch marshmallows are honestly my favorite flavor I’ve made, but it does require a couple of special ingredients on top of the standard marshmallow recipe. And then you have to wait for them to set.

I can’t leave you out to dry if you or I just aren’t up for whipping up from-scratch marshmallows, can I?? So I did a little recon, and put together the recipe with standard store-bought marshmallows so we don’t gatekeep these delicious caramel cornflake bars.

In a perfect world on a perfect day, I would always make my own caramel crunch marshmallows. They have two kinds of caramel (toffee bits and caramel throughout). But honestly, time is a fickle resource these days.

To get the caramel flavor without homemade marshmallows, add marzetti caramel dip to the melted marshmallows. We can’t add too much, though, or it will affect the texture of the bars when they set. That’s why the caramel crunch marshmallows shine a tiny bit more—since the caramel is cooked into them, you get a more concentrated caramel flavor.

Homemade caramel crunch marshmallows make the caramel flavor shine, but there’s a quick dump and go recipe that doesn’t require mallows made from scratch!

Secret to success;

When it comes to the cornflakes, there’s really not much science here. As I mentioned, this recipe was born of slightly stale cornflakes, and they held up just fine. In fact, caramel cornflake bars were about the most delicious thing to use them for.

I will mention that all the times I’ve made these, I used gluten-free cornflakes. I don’t know if all cornflakes are naturally gluten-free or not, but I’ve used both name-brand and store-brand cornflakes and again, can’t tell the difference. Somehow coating everything in chewy sugar and a smear of chocolate doesn’t leave much error to the cornflakes.

Gluten-free cornflakes can help the bars stay crisp for multiple days.

Secret to success;

I do think gluten-free may help a little bit with the crunch. Typically, gluten-free starches are drier and resist getting soggy a bit better than their traditional flour counterparts. So it works great in caramel cornflake bars because the crunch really stays crisp even for multiple days.

Of course, I had to add chocolate to tie it all together. It helps cut easy squares and holds everything together nicely. Uhm, and did I mention—it’s delicious! Since chocolate is so expensive these days, I didn’t use any fancy chocolate. Just plain old chocolate chips. When I melt chocolate chips to make them spreadable, I usually add a tiny bit of fat to help the melting. Butter works well, or coconut oil. I typically reach for coconut oil, but a few folks have coconut sensitivities so in those cases I use butter.

I melt my chocolate chips in the microwave. Add the chips and the fat and microwave on 15-20 second increments stirring between each. When the majority of the chocolate is melted but a few lumps remain, remove it from the microwave. Stir until the residual heat melts those last few lumps. I always prefer this method to make sure my chocolate melts smoothly. It’s sometimes easy to overheat your chocolate in the microwave and have the chocolate seize.

Flaky salt is optional, but highly recommended!

secret to success

And of course, I had to sprinkle flaky salt on top. I find the salt makes the caramel cornflake bars pop. Of course, you could leave it off if you prefer, or add an extra swirl or two of caramel.

secrets to success;

Want all the best tips and tricks to make this recipe a success? Check out the blog post above to find out more!

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more recipes;

Looking for other easy recipes? Try these great options!

• Spruce up rice krispies treats with these fun options:
  • mocha rice krispies treats;
  • chocolate strawberry rice krispies treats;
  • cookies and cream gluten free rice krispies treats;
  • tootsie roll rice krispies;
• If you’re keen for a few extra steps, try making caramel crunch marshmallows and using them in your caramel cornflake bars! You’ll get an amazing strong caramel flavor without compromising the texture of your bars!
• If you love caramel, but are looking for a little sweet and savory action, check out caramel apple baked brie! A quick an easy appetizer, perfect for any occasion.

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