Next Post
Pesto Zucchini and Peach Pizza with Burrata.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Chocolate Caramel Crunch Ice Cream Bars. Homemade salted caramel, mixed with Chex cereal, layered with vanilla ice cream, and dipped in chocolate. These are the ultimate summer ice cream bar. They’re super easy to make, extra sweet, crunchy, cool, and delicious. Big summer bonus? These are no cook and require zero oven time.
It’s crazy, but today is the last day in July and August will be creeping in on us tomorrow. These mid to late summer days are some of the hottest, and sometimes the only thing you want on a hot summer day is something extra sweet and extra cooling.
Enter these salted caramel crunch ice cream bars.
Oh my gosh. Words really cannot describe just how delicious these ice cream bars are. They’re salty sweet, hinted with flavors of caramel and vanilla, and covered generously in a layer of chocolate. To good, too easy, you just have to make these.
I took inspiration from my childhood summers back in Ohio, when my brothers and I would hit up the snack bar at our local pool. I used to love getting the ice cream bars covered in chocolate, peanuts, and caramel. Anyone else do the same?
I semi-wish I was twelve again and spending my summer days at the pool, but hey, at least as an adult I can make my own homemade ice cream bars…that just happen to be way better than the bars at the pool snack bar, thanks to homemade caramel, Chex cereal, and double the chocolate coating on the outside.
Here are all the details.
You’ll want to start by making your caramel sauce. Now, if you don’t have time to make homemade caramel, no worries you can use store bought. But, if you have fifteen minutes, I highly recommend making the caramel yourself. It’s a million times better than what you’ll buy in the store, and it’s actually very simple and easy to make.
You just need sugar, butter, cream, and a little flaky sea salt. You’ll cook everything together in one pot until the caramel is golden and thick. And that’s it, you’re done. Nothing too scary or tricky about it. Promise.
The caramel is the glue that holds these ice cream bars together, so if you’re using store-bought, make sure to find a high quality caramel that you love.
Ok, that’s the caramel, but let’s move on to what makes these bars a “CRUNCH” bar.
Chex cereal is my secret ingredient here, and I have partnered with Chex to bring you a few easy and delicious recipes over the next few months.
Often people only think to use Chex around the holidays, to make Chex Party Mix. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Chex Party Mix, but Chex cereal can be used in so many different ways, both sweet and savory. Today I’m sharing a very sweet way to use Chex, but it’s also great for creating savory snack mixes, easy on the go breakfast bars, and so much more. Clearly, I am a big fan.
I’m using Chex as the base to our ice cream bars today, and you guys, it is so delicious. Especially when the cereal is tossed with salty, buttery, caramel, and roasted peanuts.
SO GOOD.
Press the caramel tossed Chex cereal into a baking pan and then layer with vanilla ice cream. At this point, you’ll need to freeze the bars for a few hours to get them frozen before dipping in chocolate.
Once the bars are fully frozen, you’ll dip them into the melted chocolate, sprinkle with flaky salt, and you’re DONE.
You can eat the bars immediately or return them to the freezer for a sweet summer treat any day of the week. YUM.
These bars are great for birthday parties, BBQ’s, back to school class parties, or throwing them into a cooler and taking them off to the pool for a frozen homemade snack.
If you make these caramel crunch ice cream bars, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you. Oh, and of course, if you do make these bars, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram so I can see! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite! Also, share your Chex Cereal recipes with us @chexcereal and use #madewithchex
Chocolate Caramel Crunch Ice Cream Bars
Servings: 20 bars
Calories Per Serving: 659 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted caramel, homemade or store bought (recipe follows)
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 1/2 cups Rice Chex Cereal
- 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
- 1 gallon vanilla ice cream
- 16 ounces semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- flaky sea salt
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, more if needed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into chunks
- 1 pinch flaky salt
Instructions
- 1. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with plastic wrap.2. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt together the caramel and peanut butter until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the Chex and peanuts, tossing well to combine. Spread the mix out into the prepared pan, packing it in tightly. Transfer to the freezer and freeze 5-10 minutes.3. Spread the ice cream over the caramel in an even layer. Transfer to the freezer and freeze 3 hours or overnight.4. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a microwave safe bowl. 3. Remove the pan from the freezer and cut into 18-20 bars. Working quickly, dip the ice cream side of each bar into the melted chocolate. Place onto a parchment lined baking sheet, Chex side down, sprinkle with salt. Return to the freezer for 5 minutes. Keep stored in the freezer in an airtight container.
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1. In a large, dry, deep, heavy pot, cook the sugar over moderately high heat, stirring constantly with a heat proof rubber spatula until the sugar is melted and turns a golden caramel, about 8 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool 5 minutes. Slowly add the chunks of butter in, one by one, whisk until combined. The caramel will bubble, this is ok. Now slowly add the cream and then whisk until combined. 2. Return the pot to moderate heat and cook the mixture, stirring until the caramel has thickened, about 5 minutes, or until the caramel reaches 235-240 degrees F. on a sugar thermometer. Remove from the heat and stir in a pinch of salt. Let cool. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
{This post is sponsored by Chex Cereal. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Half Baked Harvest cooking!}
Verry Good Content For Me, Thank’s
Thank you!
Verry good article
Thank you!
Cereal in recipes?! YES AND YES AND YES. I used to love those packaged cereal bars, especially the ones with Cheerios, Rice Krispies, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I’m so glad there’s a way to recreate them at home!
YES! I hope you try these Cassie! Thank you!
Maybe I will try to make it at home. Thank you for the recipe that you have shared. May my family like it when trying.
I hope they do! Thank you!
Sadly after multiple tries the caramel sauce did not work. It seems to go south at the step where your let it cool for 5 minutes. The sugar hardens and it’s impossible to whisk the butter in
Hey Candace, the sugar hardens after 5 minutes? That is so odd and I have never had this happen. Maybe try not letting the caramel cool and just adding the butter after the sugar has caramelized, but do so slowly and then continue on with the recipe as directed. Hoping this helps! Please let me know and I am so sorry for any trouble!
So no water for the caramel??
Hi! No, I do not use water to make my caramel. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! x Tieghan
I’m loving these bars, what a perfect summer treat!
Thank you! I hope you try this!
Absolutely no mention was made in this entire post about peanut butter or the use of it until you jump down to the recipe!!
Hi Cheryl! Sorry about that! It is so help bind the ingredients and compliment the flavors!
Absolutely no mention was made in this entire post, about peanut butter or the use of it, until you jump down to the recipe!
These look absolutely HEAVENLY!! We are hosting a cookout this weekend with a group of friends…and I think these ice cream bars would be the perfect dessert to make! 🙂
Thank you! I hope you and your friends love these bars Brittany! Let me know how they turn out for you!
Ok, I think you’ve got a good concept other than I think these would be very messy to eat. I just invested in some spendy Silikomart magnum ice cream bar molds. I’m going to take your concept and capitalize on it, if you don’t mind. I’m going to use the molds, put some of the chex mix caramel concoction in the bottom, top with homemade ice cream and once frozen, dip in the chocolate. That way they’ll be on a stick, and nothing beats homemade ice cream, except maybe you combination of flavors. You’re genius! Thank you for your creativity!
HI Jan! I hope these turn out amazing for you! Thank you so much!
Hi Tieghan, for recipes that include freezing, it would be nice if you could add a “freezing time” in addition to “cooking time.”
Hi Elana! Thank you I will look into adding that!
Oh man these look amazing Tieghan! Ideal that you can store them in the freezer as well, making them last that little bit longer.
For me, Maxibon Ice Cream Sandwiches always remind me of holidays as a child. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten them anywhere but on holiday!
I hope you love these Elizabeth! Thank you!
I’m very excited about these!
Thank you Steph!
A delicious and easy to make cake, add sweet, crunchy, cool and delicious.