If you’re looking for that perfect cozy crunch without ever turning on your oven, you’ve landed in the right spot. My whole philosophy behind starting Reciqa was exactly this: making delicious food accessible. For me, cooking has always been about bringing people together—it’s about comfort, connection, and creating those little memories around the table, whether it’s a fancy holiday meal or just a Tuesday night snack. I love sharing easy everyday dishes, some indulgent desserts, and yes, even healthier things, because good food should always feel joyful.
Today, we are diving into pure, spiced happiness with my recipe for apple cinnamon chocolate crisps. Seriously, these things are addictive! They nail that perfect blend of warm spice and rich chocolate, and the best part? They’re no-bake. I whipped up a batch last week when I needed a quick treat for the kids after school, and they were gone before dinner. Let’s make cooking fun and easy together!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps Recipe
You absolutely must try these crisps because they solve so many dessert dilemmas. They are my go-to when I need something fast but satisfying. Forget waiting for the oven to preheat; these come together in minutes.
- They are completely no-bake, which means less fuss and less heat in the kitchen.
- The texture is phenomenal—that satisfying crunch from the cereal mixed with chewy bits of dried apple.
- That warm hug of cinnamon pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate. It tastes like autumn, even in July!
Gathering the Ingredients for Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
Okay, let’s get organized! The beauty of these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps is that they use pantry staples, mostly. You don’t need anything fancy, which is why I love pulling these together when I’m feeling lazy but craving something special. Before you start melting anything, just lay out everything you need. Trust me, when chocolate is involved, timing is everything!
Ingredient List for Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
Here is the exact lineup for the best batch of apple cinnamon chocolate crisps you’ll ever make. Make sure your dried apples are cut small so they distribute nicely throughout the mix!
- 12 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal
- 1 cup dried apples, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 quarter teaspoon flaky salt
Essential Equipment for Making Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
You don’t need a stand mixer for this recipe, which is another win! For these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps, you just need a couple of simple items to manage the melting and setting process. Grab these things now so you’re ready to go.
- A sturdy baking sheet lined with parchment paper
- A heat-safe bowl (for melting the chocolate)
- A double boiler setup or a saucepan for gentle heating
The Simple Steps to Perfect Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
This is where the magic happens, and honestly, it’s so fast you’ll think you missed a step! Since this is a no-bake recipe, we have to be careful with the chocolate. If you scorch it, the whole batch of apple cinnamon chocolate crisps is ruined, and nobody wants that!
Preparing Your Surface and Melting the Chocolate
First things first: get your baking sheet ready. Line it with parchment paper—don’t skip this, or you’ll be scraping chocolate off the pan later, and that’s just a sad mess. Once that’s done, we tackle the chocolate. You need to melt the dark chocolate gently. I always use a double boiler setup, which just means setting a heat-safe bowl over a saucepan that has just barely simmering water. Don’t let the bottom of your bowl touch the water, or you risk seizing the chocolate! Stir it slowly until it’s smooth and glossy, like liquid silk. This gentle heat is crucial for perfect apple cinnamon chocolate crisps. Learn more about melting chocolate properly.
As soon as it’s fully melted, pull that bowl right off the heat. You don’t want any residual heat cooking it further while we mix in the other stuff. This step is non-negotiable for a smooth coating on our treats!
Combining the Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps Base
Now for the fun part where everything comes together! With the chocolate off the heat, toss in your crispy rice cereal, the finely chopped dried apples, and that beautiful cinnamon. Give it a gentle stir. You need to make sure every single piece of cereal and every chunk of apple gets kissed by that melted chocolate. If you stir too vigorously, you’ll crush your cereal, and we want maximum crunch in these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps. Keep mixing until you see no dry spots left in the bowl.
It’s going to look a little thick, almost like a sticky mess, but that’s exactly what you want. That thickness is what holds the apple and cinnamon bits in place when they set up!
Forming and Setting Your Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
Time to portion them out onto that prepared sheet. I use a regular tablespoon to scoop out little mounds. They don’t need to be perfect circles; rustic little blobs look much better, in my opinion! Drop them neatly onto the parchment paper, leaving a little space between each one so they don’t run into each other as they cool. For the final touch that really elevates these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps, take your flaky salt and sprinkle just a tiny pinch over the top of each mound. That salt cuts through the richness of the dark chocolate so beautifully.
Finally, into the fridge they go! They need about 30 minutes to firm up completely. Don’t rush this by putting them in the freezer, or the chocolate might get a strange texture. Patience for 30 minutes means perfectly crisp, delicious treats!
Tips for Success with Your Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
Listen, making no-bake treats seems easy, and it is, but there are a few little secrets that stop these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps from ending up gooey or dull. The absolute biggest secret is controlling your chocolate temperature. If you overheat it, it gets grainy, and your crisps will be sad and matte instead of glossy and perfect. Keep that heat low and slow when melting!
Another big deal is the quality of your chocolate. Since chocolate is the main binder here, don’t skimp! I always use good quality dark chocolate—using chips can sometimes be tricky because they have stabilizers that stop them from melting smoothly. Finely chopping a bar works much better for that nice, even coating we are aiming for. If you are looking for other easy no-bake treats, check out my recipe for no-bake bumpy peanut butter nuggets.
Also, let’s talk about the dried apples. If your apples seem a little stiff, you can try microwaving them for about 10 seconds in a tiny bit of water just to soften them up slightly before mixing. This makes sure they blend right into the texture of the apple cinnamon chocolate crisps instead of feeling rock-hard once they cool down. A little prep goes a long way to ensure every bite is the crunchy, spiced perfection we want!
Serving Suggestions for This Spiced Treat
These little bites are surprisingly versatile! They make a fantastic, light dessert after a heavy meal because they aren’t overly sweet or filling. Honestly, my favorite way to enjoy these spiced treats is just grabbing one or two straight from the fridge in the mid-afternoon. They are the perfect companion to a hot cup of coffee—the bitterness of the coffee really makes the cinnamon and apple flavors pop. If you enjoy spiced drinks, you might also like my recipe for mulled cider recipe.
If you’re serving them to guests, try setting them out on a small wooden board next to some plain vanilla yogurt or a scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream. That cool, creamy texture is a wonderful contrast to the sharp snap of the chocolate crisps. They look lovely scattered around a platter, especially with that little fleck of salt on top catching the light. They really do taste like a tiny, crunchy hug!
Storage and Keeping Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps Fresh
Because these are no-bake, keeping them crisp is really important! If you leave them sitting out on the counter, especially if your kitchen is warm or humid, the chocolate might soften, and the cereal can get a little stale. We want that beautiful snap every time you bite into one. For more tips on keeping treats fresh, you can check out general food safety guidelines from sources like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The best method, hands down, is keeping them chilled. The chocolate stays firm, and the whole crisp maintains its integrity. I usually keep mine in an airtight container right in the refrigerator. They stay fantastic for quite a while this way, much longer than most baked cookies!
| Storage Location | Approximate Freshness |
|---|---|
| Airtight Container, Room Temp | 2-3 days (Texture may soften) |
| Airtight Container, Refrigerator | Up to 1 week (Recommended for best crispness) |
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
I get so many questions about these little treasures, and that’s a sign you know you’ve got a winner! People always want to tweak things, and that’s fine, but sometimes a recipe is perfect as is. Here are a few things I always hear when folks are making their first batch of apple cinnamon chocolate crisps.
Can I substitute the type of chocolate in these apple cinnamon chocolate crisps?
You absolutely can play with the chocolate, but you need to know what you’re sacrificing! I insist on dark chocolate because its slight bitterness balances the sweetness of the dried apples and cinnamon perfectly. If you use milk chocolate, they will be much sweeter, and you might want to cut the cinnamon down just a touch. White chocolate is tricky; it melts differently and doesn’t have the structure to hold things together as well as dark or semi-sweet, so I usually recommend sticking to the darker stuff for the best texture. If you are interested in baking in general, you might enjoy reading about best madeleines.
How long do these no bake dessert crisps last?
Since these are no-bake dessert crisps, they last longer than something baked, provided you store them correctly! If you keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they are fantastic for about a week. They stay nice and firm. If you leave them on the counter, they might start to get a little softer after day three, especially if your kitchen is warm. They never last that long at my house anyway, but knowing they keep well is always a bonus!
What if I don’t have dried apples? Can I use fresh?
Oh, that’s a no-go, honey. Fresh apples have way too much water content. If you mix fresh apples into these crisps, they will leak moisture while they sit, turning your whole batch gooey and soggy instead of crunchy. Dried apples are essential because they provide that chewy texture without introducing excess liquid. If you only have dried apples that feel a bit hard, just soften them slightly as I mentioned before, but never use fresh!
Understanding the Nutrition of Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps
Since these are so simple, people often ask about the nutrition, especially since they taste like a rich treat! I want to be clear that these numbers are just my best estimate based on the ingredients I use. Whenever you swap out chocolate types or brands, the numbers will shift a bit. But for a quick, satisfying snack, I think they hold their own pretty well!
| Nutrient | Estimate Per Crisp |
|---|---|
| Calories | 112 |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
Amazing 1-Minute apple cinnamon chocolate crisps
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 22 crisps
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Apple Cinnamon Chocolate Crisps are crunchy, cozy, and simple to make. This is an easy no-bake dessert featuring warm spice flavor.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 cups crispy rice cereal
- 1 cup dried apples, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 quarter teaspoon flaky salt
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet and set aside.
- Melt dark chocolate gently over barely simmering water.
- Remove from heat and stir in cereal, apples, and cinnamon.
- Mix until fully coated.
- Drop spoonfuls onto the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle lightly with flaky salt.
- Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
Notes
- Chilled storage keeps these crisps crisp and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American

