Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are a childhood favorite! Were taking it up a notch to give them a more complex flavor without changing what works. These brown butter rice krispie treats have gooey marshmallows and crunchy cereal.
The best part about this recipe is that its super fast! (some arm workout is required)
What is Brown Butter?
Brown butter originated in France (buerre noisette) and is used to add flavor to both sweet and savory dishes.
When we cook the butter down, it brings out a rich nutty flavor and compliments rice krispies well. Trust me, these brown butter rice krispie treats will have your friends and family asking you to bake more!
How to Make Brown Butter
All you need is a pot, wooden spoon, and low heat. Brown butter takes about 6-8 minutes to cook and once it starts browning it will go quickly. Then, gently stir and keep an eye on it when it starts foaming. One sign that the butter is close to browning is the bubbling foam.
It goes from its golden hue to brown very fast and can easily burn and turn black.
As soon as you see the brown specks on the bottom of the pot, take the pot off the heat and add your marshmallows. However, don’t let your butter sit in the warm pot by itself for long because it will continue cooking.
What are the Brown Specks?
Those brown specks that you see in the bottom of the pot are toasted milk solids. You don’t want to strain these out because this is where the best flavor comes from.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Marshmallows
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Rice cereal
The recipe and tips are included as subtitles in the video!
I enjoy ASMR videos and I’ve always wanted to try it myself. But I bake, I don’t cut soap or squish slime lol. So naturally I had to try baking ASMR!
How To Make Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Place 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter in a pot over low heat. You can cut up the butter for faster melting. Occasionally stir the butter and after about 5 minutes it will foam – this is a sign its getting closer.
As soon as you see the golden hue turn brown with brown specks, remove from the heat.
Measure 2 cups of marshmallows and set aside. Then, add the remaining bag and the second bag into the pot. Add 3 tsp of vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp salt.
Mix with a wooden spoon.
After stirring for 1-2 minutes, place the pot back on low heat and continue to stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.
We are using 10 cups of rice cereal. I add 4 or 5 cups of cereal then stir. Then, I add the rest of the cups. This helps to incorporate the cereal in smaller amounts and not spill over the pot. Stir until the cereal is fully coated and your arm is tired!
Add the 2 cups of marshmallows back and gently stir so they do not melt. The slightly melted marshmallows makes the treats look extra tasty once we go to cut them.
Preparing the Treats
Prepare a 9 x 13 pan by covering with tinfoil, then spray with cooking spray! If you do not use spray, they will stick to the tinfoil when you cut them (I learned the hard way).
Then, pour the warm cereal mixture onto the pan.
Using a rubber spatula (so they don’t stick) gently spread the cereal mixture into all 4 corners of the pan. You want to spread the treats evenly, but pushing down too hard with the spatula will create dense treats.
Let the treats sit for 1 hour or more at room temperature.
After the treats have sat for 1 hour, lift from the pan and gently undo the foil from the sides. Either eyeball or measure how many squares you’d like.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut your square. I cut 15 medium sized squares by cutting 4 sections on the short side, then 2 sections on the long side. For 20 squares, cut 4 sections on the short side, then 3 sections on the long side.
Finally, gently peel the squares from the tinfoil and eat!
How to Store Rice Krispies
Brown butter rice krispie treats can be stored in an airtight container for 5 days. (If they last that long, I’d be amazed!)
They can also be frozen for 1 month in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers. Make sure to bring to room temperature before eating.
RECIPE CARD
Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter 6 oz
- 2 10 oz bags mini marshmallows, 2 cups divided
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 10 cups rice cereal
Instructions
- Place 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter in a pot over low heat. You can cut up the butter for faster melting.
- Gently keep stirring the butter. After about 5 minutes it will foam – this is a sign its getting closer to browning.
- As soon as you see the golden hue turn brown with brown specks, remove from the heat or it will burn.
- Measure 2 cups of marshmallows and set aside. Then add the remaining bag and the second bag into the pot.
- Add 3 tsp of vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix with a wooden spoon.
- After stirring for 1-2 minutes, place the pot back on low heat and continue to stir until the marshmallows are completely melted.
- Add 5 cups of rice cereal to the pot – stir – then add the remaining 5 cups. Stir until the cereal is fully coated and your arm is tired!
- Add the 2 cups of marshmallows back and stir gently so they do not melt.
- Use a 9 x 13 pan and cover with tinfoil + spray with cooking spray! If you do not use spray, they will stick to the tinfoil when you cut them.
- Pour the warm cereal mixture onto the pan.
- Using a rubber spatula (so they don't stick) gently spread the cereal mixture into all 4 corners of the pan. Pushing down too hard will create dense treats.
- Let the treats sit at room temperature for 1 hour or more.
- After the treats have sat for 1 hour, lift from the pan by using the overhanging foil then gently undo the foil from the sides. Either eyeball or measure how many squares you'd like.
- For 15 squares, carefully use a sharp knife to cut 4 sections on the short side, then 2 sections on the long side. For 20 squares, cut 4 sections on the short side, then 3 sections on the long side.
- Gently peel the squares from the tinfoil and eat!
Notes
- When adding rice cereal I like to first add 4 or 5 cups – stir – then add the rest of the cups. This helps to incorporate the cereal into the marshmallows in smaller amounts and not spill over the pot. (This is an arm workout but its worth it!)
- Brown butter rice krispie treats can be stored in an airtight container for 5 days.
- They can also be frozen for 1 month in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers. Bring to room temperature before eating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, and should be used as an approximation.
