Maybe you've seen marshmallow treats shaped like footballs before, but have you ever seen Caramel Cream Stuffed Cocoa Krispies Football Treats? I bet not, and it's an idea whose time has come. SCORE!

For other fun marshmallow and or cereal treats for different occasions throughout the year check the following: 3D Rice Krispies Christmas Tree, Cocoa Krispies Peppermint Bark, Tiger Paws Frosted Flake Cereal Bars, and Frankenstein Rice Krispies Treat.
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Jump to:
- The ingredients:
- Ingredient information:
- Kitchen tools and equipment:
- Ingredient swap-out suggestions:
- How many cocoa krispies football treats does this recipe make?
- How to easily adjust the serving size of this recipe
- How to store marshmallow cereal treats
- Can these football marshmallow cereal treats be frozen?
- Additional recipes for game day snacking:
- Printable Recipe Card
The ingredients:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
Ingredient information:
CARAMEL CREAMS - I'm a big fan of these chewy caramel and vanilla-flavored candies, but feel free to swap them out for something different if you prefer. I have a whole bunch of different candy suggestions listed below or feel free to come up with your own idea. My only tip would be to keep the texture of the candy chosen similar in texture to that of the marshmallow cereal treat itself.
BUTTER - I always use salted butter. You can use unsalted butter if that's what you have, but I suggest adding a tiny pinch of salt to the melted marshmallows before adding the cereal because it will make all the flavors more pronounced.
COCOA KRISPIES - I chose Cocoa Krispies because of their brown color, but as you'll notice in the completed images, a lot of the marshmallow white came through. While it isn't objectionable (to me, anyway), if you'd like to bring out more of the brown color (and chocolate flavor), feel free to whisk in a teaspoon or two of cocoa powder into the melted marshmallows before adding the cereal by doing that it should aid in enhancing a more pronounced football brown color to the final treats.
MARSHMALLOWS - I used the size and quantity of marshmallows I had on hand. Feel free to use large or even jumbo marshmallows if you like. This recipe requires approximately 9 ounces of marshmallows, so using a digital kitchen scale may be helpful.
CONFECTIONER'S SUGAR - You need this ingredient to make the icing that will be piped onto the footballs after shaping. I only used a small amount (one cup) because I only wanted to pipe the football laces and not the wider stripes you sometimes see on either end of the football. If you'd like to add those stripes, feel free to do so, but know that you'll need additional quantities of the icing ingredients.
MILK - This ingredient is needed to turn the confectioner's sugar into icing. I used whole milk because that's what I had on hand. Skim, 1%, 2%, or even almond milk will work. The amount of milk you need depends on how much icing you plan to make. A little liquid goes a long way when making powdered sugar icing, so use the milk sparingly, adding only a tiny touch at a time, whisking it together to check the consistency, and adding more if needed.
ALMOND EXTRACT - This ingredient is optional. I used it to flavor the confectioner's sugar icing. I also chose almond extract because it's clear in color, whereas vanilla extract is dark brown, and I wanted the laces of the footballs to be as pure white as possible to contrast with the football itself.
Kitchen tools and equipment:
LARGE SLOW COOKER - When making individually shaped cereal treats, I keep the marshmallow cereal mixture warm and pliable throughout the process. I find that using a slow cooker (i.e., crockpot) for this method of warming while shaping does a fabulous job without having to fiddle with any stovetop temperature controls.
BAKING SPRAY - Use this on your hands or gloves when forming the footballs. A light spray will help prevent the marshmallow cereal mixture from sticking to your hands.
LATEX GLOVES - Optional but helpful if you're not averse to latex products. I used gloves, but I also needed to use baking spray after making about half the footballs.
SILICONE SPATULA - You need something sturdy with non-stick capabilities to get in there and thoroughly stir up these treats. Get ready for an arm workout.
BAKING SHEET - Optional but helpful for moving the footballs from one spot to another at one time.
PARCHMENT PAPER - This prevents the completed footballs from sticking to the surface of the counter or baking sheet. Wax paper will also work.
MEDIUM MIXING BOWL - Needed to mix the icing.
MEASURING SPOONS - Optional but helpful if you don't feel comfortable with the eyeball method of cooking.
PIPING BAG OR PLASTIC SANDWICH BAG - Once the confectioner's sugar icing is ready, spoon it into a disposable sandwich bag or piping bag (probably overkill). Use scissors to snip a tiny bit off the bag's corner to pipe fine football laces. A larger snip will provide a thicker stripe if needed.
KITCHEN SCALE (OPTIONAL) - A very accurate and helpful way to measure ingredients.
Ingredient swap-out suggestions:
If you'd prefer to use another type of candy as the center "stuffing" of these Cocoa Krispies footballs, by all means, do.
However, I caution you to use a softer, chewy candy with the same consistency as the marshmallow cereal treat itself.
Using a candy that's too hard could possibly cause damage to someone's teeth if they didn't (or don't) have prior notification of the surprise center.
Candy "stuffing" suggestions:
- tootsie rolls
- M & M's
- gummy candy
- skittles
- peanut butter cups
- jelly beans
- star bursts
- butter fingers
- snickers
- milk duds
- peppermint patty
- mounds bar
How many cocoa krispies football treats does this recipe make?
As written, this recipe makes approximately 14 (3-3½ inch) caramel cream stuffed cocoa Krispies football treats.
Of course, if you make your marshmallow cereal football treats smaller in size than I did, you'll get more than 12 treats.
How to easily adjust the serving size of this recipe
Should you need to increase (or decrease) the serving size for this recipe you can easily adjust the ingredient quantities using the sliding scale shown in the recipe card by hovering over the number in the serving size.
How to store marshmallow cereal treats
Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for 7-10 days.
They may be refrigerated, if desired, in an airtight container, and they'll keep for 2 -3 weeks. Allow the treats to come to room temperature before serving.
Can these football marshmallow cereal treats be frozen?
Yes, they can be frozen.
Store them in an airtight freezer container or freezer bag, and they'll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
I like to use these dissolvable content labels for adding dates and container content information to the outside of refrigerator and freezer packages.
Additional recipes for game day snacking:
Patty Melt Dip tastes just like the iconic burger only this is in fun, dipping form. It's a great party dip for game day and always disappears quickly.
Upside Down Bratwurst and Cheese Pastry is a fun and delicious way to make and serve unusually delicious hot and hearty appetizers with a crispy crunch.
Dill Pickle and Salami Spread is a throwback recipe with an updated twist and no fiddly rolling.
Pepperoni Pizza Nachos can be made in an oven or air fryer. Anyway you choose to make them they'll be a hit plus they're also super simple to put together!
When you make this recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did. Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
Caramel Cream Stuffed Cocoa Krispies Football Treats
Equipment
- latex gloves optional
- plastic sandwich bag optional for piping laces
- disposable piping bag optional for piping laces
- kitchen scale optional for weighing marshmallows
Ingredients
For the cocoa krispies football treats:
- 14 each caramel cream candies unwrapped
- 1 box (12.6 ounces) cocoa krispies cereal
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, salted
- 9 ounces marshmallows
For the icing laces:
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1½ tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
To make the cocoa krispies cereal treats:
- Melt the butter in the slow cooker on low heat. Once the butter has fully melted add the marshmallows and allow them to melt (this will take several minutes), whisking occasionally, to combine the butter and marshmallows into one melted and creamy mixture.
- Meanwhile unwrap the caramel creams and place parchment (or wax) paper on baking sheets.
- Once the butter and marshmallows are completely incorporated, add the cocoa krispies cereal into the slow cooker making sure to evenly stir the cereal evenly throughout the melted marshmallow mixture. *Note - this will take a good bit of stirring, and elbow grease.
- Lightly spray hands with baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Scoop approximately ¾'s cup of the marshmallow cereal treat into the palm of your hand and flatten slightly. Add one of the unwrapped caramel creams into the center of the cereal treat and close the cereal treat around the caramel, forming it into the shape of a football.
- Set the football treat onto the parchment paper and continue the same process with the remaining cocoa krispies in the cooker and the caramel creams.
To make the icing:
- Whisk the icing ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until the mixture is smooth and slightly thick but not too thick that the icing won't pipe out of a small hole, and not too thin that the icing won't hold it's shape after it's been piped to form the laces. *Note - if the icing is too thin, add more confectioner's sugar and if the icing is too thick, add a tiny touch more milk. The icing is ready when it holds its shape when drizzled back into the mixing bowl without immediately disappearing.
- Spoon the prepared icing into the corner of a plastic sandwich bag (or disposable piping bag) and snip the tip of the bag to form a small hole for piping.
- Pipe the football laces onto each cocoa krispies cereal treat football and allow the icing to dry before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you'll enjoy making (and eating) these sweet stuffed cocoa krispies marshmallow cereal treat footballs as much as I've enjoyed bringing them to you.
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