Goof Balls are an easy no bake treat that both kids and adults will love! Perfect for when you need something sweet but don’t want to bake!
Goof Balls are an easy, fun, no bake Candy to serve at a party, kids playdate, or just because! If you love this marshmallow treat, you’ll also love S’mores Bark and Rocky Road Chocolate Candy.
Sabrina’s Goof Balls Recipe
If you love classic Rice Crispy treats, you’ll love this fun twist! The combination of flavors and textures come together to create and easy, bite-sized dessert that’s always a crowd pleaser. Perfect for sharing and making memories around the table. Goof Balls are perfect for when you need something sweet that everyone will love but don’t want to bake!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 11 ounces soft caramels , unwrapped
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 pound jumbo marshmallows
- 3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To a medium saucepan over medium low heat add the caramels, sweetened condensed milk and butter.
- Whisk well once melted.
- Remove from heat.
- Dip the marshmallow halfway in the caramel mixture then dip in cereal and place on baking sheet.
- Let harden for 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
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Sabrina’s Tips
For an extra layer of flavor, I like to sprinkle a little flaky sea salt over the Goof Balls before the coating sets. The touch of salt balances the sweetness of the caramel and makes the flavors pop, giving this classic treat a gourmet twist.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Goof Balls are a classic no-bake treat made with fluffy marshmallows dipped in a smooth caramel coating and rolled in crispy rice cereal. The caramel is made extra rich and creamy with sweetened condensed milk and butter, creating the perfect coating for every bite. With their combination of chewy marshmallows, buttery caramel, and crunchy cereal, these sweet treats are easy to make and always a hit at parties, potlucks, holidays, and family gatherings. Their nostalgic flavor and irresistible texture make them a dessert people of all ages love.
Ingredients
- Caramels: 11 ounces of Kraft caramels are used to make the caramel coating. The soft caramel squares melt down easily, making them perfect for dips, toppings, and dessert coatings like this recipe. When melting, be careful not to let the sugar burn, or it will ruin the lovely flavor profile.
- Condensed milk: 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk is used to melt the candies. Condensed milk is made by removing water from cows’ milk for a richer, thicker consistency. It also has sugar added for a sweeter flavor. Adding it to the coating makes a thicker, creamier consistency that is better for dipping the Goof Ball recipe in.
- Butter: ½ cup unsalted butter is used in the caramel coating. The added oil makes the mixture smoother and helps it to melt into a silky consistency.
- Marshmallows: Opt for jumbo-sized marshmallows. They’re big enough to make the perfect, puffy, bite-sized treats. Using freshly opened marshmallows is ideal for having the softest, puffy centers.
- Rice Krispies: The crisp cereal is an easy addition that adds contrasting texture to the soft marshmallow and caramel at the center.
Can this be made ahead of time?
This marshmallow treat is best served fairly fresh so that fluffy marshmallows are perfectly soft. However, you can make them a day or two before you plan to serve the recipe. Keep them tightly sealed in a cool place to stay fresh and not melt before serving them.
How to Store
- Serve: Be sure to let the caramel coating set before serving your Goof Ball recipe. You don’t want to leave the marshmallow treats sitting out for more than a couple of hours, or the marshmallows can start to dry out and go stale.
- Store: To keep the marshmallows fresh, package them in a large bag or airtight container with waxed paper separating the layers. Place the container in your pantry or another cool area of your kitchen. You want to make sure your house is cool enough that it won’t melt. The recipe will stay good for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: To keep the recipe longer, you can package the caramel marshmallows in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to serve them, let the recipe sit at room temperature until the marshmallows soften.
Ideas to Serve
- Build Your Own: You can also make creating Goof Balls a family activity. Put out different topping ideas, such as cereals, mini candies, coconut flakes, etc. Then, let your kids add whatever extra toppings they want to the caramel coating to make a personalized version of this yummy treat.
- Dessert Platter: Serve them on a dessert platter alongside other bite-sized treats like brownie bites, mini cupcakes, or fruit tarts for a variety of flavors and textures.
- Fresh Fruit: Serve them alongside a platter of fresh fruits like strawberries, grapes, apple slices, or banana slices. The combination of the Goof Balls’ texture with the freshness of the fruit makes for a great snack.
Frequent Questions
You can make your Goof Ball recipe with various coatings. However, the classic version of this treat has a marshmallow center, a caramel coating, and a layer of Rice Krispies.
After opening a bag of marshmallows, they’ll start stale at room temperature. To avoid this, package them in a large zip lock bag, and remove as much air as possible before sealing the package. You can also add a slice of bread to the container. The bread will absorb excess moisture, keeping the marshmallows fresh and fluffy for longer.
Melt the caramels, condensed milk, and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat for best results. It’s essential to keep the stovetop fairly low and stir as you melt. Otherwise, the sugar can burn as you cook. You could also prepare the caramels in the microwave. Just make sure to melt at low power in 30-second increments. The microwave can also easily burn the caramel if you go at full power.
Variations
- Cereal: You can make this sweet treat with different kinds of crunchy cereal for the outer layer. Instead of classic crispy rice cereal, try making the recipe with Cornflakes, Cheerios, Cocoa Rice Krispies, Fruity Pebbles, and many other favorite cereals.
- Chocolate Goofballs: Who doesn’t love chocolate and marshmallows? For this recipe, you can make a chocolate coating instead of caramel to dip the marshmallows in. Add semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate to a glass bowl with a tablespoon of vegetable shortening. Then, microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between sessions until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Dip marshmallows in chocolate and then add cereal to the outside. You could also do a layer of caramel, then let the Goof Balls dry before adding a layer of chocolate.
- Peanut Butter Balls: You can also make your covered marshmallow recipe with a peanut butter coating for a sweet and salty treat. Add ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup corn syrup to a medium saucepan to make a sweet, salty coating for peanut butter balls. Turn to medium-low heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring as needed to stop the sugar from burning. Remove the pan from heat, then mix in 1 cup of peanut butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. After combining, dip the marshmallows and add Rice Krispies to finish the peanut butter balls. For this version, you can use smooth peanut butter, crunchy peanut butter, or other kinds of nut butter, like almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter.
- Toppings: You can make this tasty recipe with various toppings. After adding the caramel, you can sprinkle on shaved chocolate, sea salt, sanding sugar, chopped nuts, graham cracker crumbs, coconut flakes, a white chocolate drizzle, and other dessert toppings you love making Goof Balls an addicting treat.
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