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    Home - Bars

    Published: Dec 17, 2019 · Modified: Dec 16, 2022 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Once you try brown butter rice krispie treats, you will never want them any other way! The nutty browned butter gives these nostalgic bars an incredible depth of flavor.

    rice krispie treats being cut into squares on parchment paper

    Why it works

    It's pretty much common knowledge that brown butter makes basically everything better. The nutty, almost caramel flavor elevates everything it touches. Rice krispie treats are no exception. In fact, this is one of my favorite ways to have my brown butter. 

    Unlike the store-bought variety, this treat is far more balanced and not just sweet all the way through. Instead, the brown butter adds depth and complexity and the hint of salt keeps these bars from tasting like a sugar overload.

    Ingredient overview

    It only takes a handful of ingredients to make these incredible treats. Let's do a quick overview of them and if there are any substitutions.

    • Butter - I highly recommend using unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt. If you don't mind risking salty treats, you can use salted butter. Margarine and other alternatives don't work as substitutions.
    • Marshmallows - You can use regular or mini marshmallows here. They both work equally well, but you may get better pools of stretchy marshmallow using mini marshmallows.
    • Cereal - Rice krispie treats are obvious, but you can experiment with replacing some of it with another favorite cereal to add more fun.
    • Salt - I like to use sea salt, but you can also finish them with a light sprinkle of fleur de sel when leaving them to set.
    rice krispie treats scattered on parchment paper

    How to Make

    Making rice krispie treats with brown butter is incredibly simple. It is a matter of making regular rice krispie treats.... but browning the butter first. 

    1. Add your butter for a large saucepan or pot. 
    2. Heat on medium-high heat until the butter smells nutty and aromatic. (For more information on how to make brown butter, I got you covered)
    3. Add marshmallows, then mix until they've melted.
    4. Stir in the cereal. 

    The only difference here is that it does take a little more time to make because you have to brown the butter. Luckily, it takes only a few minutes to brown your butter. 

    Tips for Perfect Rice Krispie Treats

    Rice Krispie treats are more or less foolproof, but there are things you can do to make sure you get the best treats every single time. 

    • Don't wait until all the marshmallows are melted before adding in your cereal. The blobs of unmelted marshmallow add really delicious pockets of marshmallow which are so good, especially if you love marshmallows. 
    • Don't press down too hard when you are adding your treats to a pan. Gently press them to prevent crushing the cereal too much. That way you don't end up with super dense squares and instead get fluffy bars of brown butter rice krispie treats. 
    • Use the butter wrapper to press down on your cereal. It keeps your hands clean and the grease from the butter on the wrapper keeps the cereal from sticking everywhere. 
    • Use a bench scraper (I love this one) for the best cuts to get perfect squares. I also recommend trimming the edges (save those for yourself for being such an awesome baker). 
    krispie treats stacked on top of each other

    Mix things up

    Did you know you can take your treats to a whole new level by adding things like Golden Grahams and chocolate chips to make a brown butter s'mores rice krispie treat?! Cue the drool emoji. 

    I also like to enhance my treats sometimes by adding a drizzle of brown butter glaze. You can make one by stirring brown butter, powdered sugar, and a touch of milk or water together until is it just thin enough to drizzle from a spoon. 

    Don't have time to make these melt in your mouth brown butter rice Krispy treats now? Pin them for later!

    close up of bitten rice krispie treat

    Recipe FAQs

    Are these treats gluten-free?

    It depends on the brand of puffed rice cereal you use because some brands do contain gluten.

    Is it okay to use marshmallow fluff?

    You cannot use fluff in this recipe. It doesn't work well to give you a nice final texture.

    Can I refrigerate or freeze the treats?

    I do not recommend it. The cold will alter the texture of them and you will lose the soft, chewiness that we look for in rice krispie treats. Instead, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

    If you want more rice krispie treats, try my peanut butter and jelly rice krispie treats and my pumpkin rice krispie treats! My Oreo rice krispie treats are a family favorite. If you want more inspiration, check out my rice krispie treats four ways! 

    rice krispy treats recipe

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

    Amanda Powell
    Gooey and completely irresistible brown butter rice krispie treats
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Bars
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 bars
    Calories 60 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup unsalted butter 113g
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 10 oz marshmallows
    • 8 cups rice krispies 200g

    Instructions
     

    • Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper. You can use a larger pan if you prefer smaller treats.
    • Heat the butter over medium heat until it starts to brown and give a light nutty scent. Remove from heat immediately to prevent the butter from burning.
    • Add the vanilla and salt to the butter and mix.
    • Add the marshmallows and mix until they are mostly melted. The heat of the pot and the butter should be enough to melt the marshmallows. If not, put the pot back on the burner and put the heat on low until the marshmallows melt.
    • Add the Rice Krispies one cup at a time and mix thoroughly.
    • Pour the mix into the pan and pat down until flat. Allow to cool - about 1 - 2 hours. Cut into squares

    Notes

    Do not press down too firmly on the treats when adding them to the pan.
    Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 60kcalCarbohydrates: 14gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 83mgSugar: 10g
    Keyword brown butter, rice krispie treats
    Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

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    About Amanda Powell

    Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ty says

      November 28, 2022 at 11:30 pm

      Soooo good. Everyone loves them.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Christine says

      April 15, 2014 at 9:37 pm

      Haha, I loved your over-hyphenating everything comment. We are (were?) the same way with our three year old. I mean we tried keeping it fun..he'd get digestive biscuits and basic cookies, and if I made it he'd have it...you know, homemade chocolate cake or choco chip cookies...but this is a kid who asks for a second apple for his snack...who am I to say no? Of course, we're the same. At nap time, a package of chips might slowly be ripped open, or after bed a Snickers bar unwrapped;p These look cheery and delish. Brown butter anything please!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Amanda! I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese. While I'm mostly self-taught, I recently received a degree in Food Science!

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