Brown butter rice krispie treats are soft and chewy, gooey and crispy no bake treats with a deeply nutty and toasted flavor. These brown butter rice crispy treats are easy to make with just 5 ingredients and are a delicious elevation on a classic.
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Why Make This Recipe
I have several marshmallow treat recipes on the blog. My personal favorites at the moment are my Maple Tahini Rice Krispie Treats, Lucky Charms Rice Krispie Treats, Chocolate Covered Rice Krispie Treats and Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats. These brown butter rice crispy treats are another fun twist on the nostalgic no bake marshmallow bars you know and love.
- They are quick, easy and fun to make. There’s nothing better than satisfying a dessert or snack craving as soon as possible with ingredients you already have on hand. These rice krispie treats with browned butter are made using 5 ingredients.
- You love flavorful twists on nostalgic childhood treats. These marshmallow treats with brown butter are exactly the same as the beloved and iconic rice krispie treats, with an elevated, nutty flavor.
- They’re a delicious no bake dessert. These marshmallow and cereal filled no bake bars make a great sweet snack or easy dessert kids and adults will absolutely adore.
Ingredients and Substitutions
This browned butter rice krispie treats recipe requires only 5 ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your house. Make sure you have these ingredients ready to go.
- Rice Krispie Cereal: Feel free to use any rice cereal you like.
- Unsalted Butter: You can use the same amount of salted butter as written in the recipe. Just omit the ½ teaspoon salt added.
- Vanilla Extract: This adds a lovely background flavor to the marshmallow treats. It’s highly recommended to use this, but it can be omitted if needed.
- Salt: Adding a pinch of salt to the gooey brown butter marshmallow mixture will enhance and balance all the other flavors.
- Mini Marshmallows: This recipe for brown butter crispy treats uses (2) 10 oz. bags of mini marshmallows. Feel free to use regular marshmallows if needed, but mini ones are recommended for the best brown butter rice krispie treats.
How To Make
Learn how to make brown butter rice krispie treats in a few easy steps.
- Grease and line a 9 x 13 pan with wax paper or foil along the bottom and two sides of the pan. In a sauce pan or pot, melt the butter on low heat until the butter to begins to foam. Once it starts to foam, whisk or stir the liquid butter frequently. The butter will begin to smell nutty and very fragrant. Once the foam has subsided, the butter should have some brown, lightly toasted bits floating at the bottom.
- As soon as the butter has browned, add the marshmallows. Stir continuously over low heat until the marshmallows are mostly melted. Once the marshmallows are mostly melted remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Add the rice krispie cereal directly to the pan if possible. If not, make sure all the cereal is in a large bowl and pour the melted marshmallows directly into the bowl of cereal. Quickly and carefully stir the cereal and gooey browned butter marshmallows together until well combined. Add the reserved 2 cups mini marshmallows into the cereal treats until just combined.
3. Evenly scoop the gooey and nutty cereal treats into the prepared pan. Gently press the browned butter rice crispy treats into place. Allow the treats to set for at least 30 - 60 minutes, then slice and enjoy.
How To Make Ahead, Store, Freeze and Thaw
- Make Ahead: Prepare the crispy treats with brown butter according to the recipe directions. Keep the marshmallow treats in the pan, fully wrap the pan in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 1 day before serving for the best tasting treats.
- Store: These brown butter crispy treats store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freeze and Thaw: Prepare the marshmallow brown butter treats according to the recipe directions. Cut and wrap each individual square in wax or plastic wrap. Place each of the squares in an airtight, freezer proof container. Store in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. To thaw, remove the treats from the freezer to thaw until room temperature. Warm the treats in the microwave for that “fresh from the oven” taste.
M’s Expert Tips
- Mini marshmallows are the best. When possible, I recommend using mini marshmallows versus large or regular size marshmallows. I find these marshmallows melt the most evenly and make the perfect rice krispie treats.
- Watch the butter. As soon as the butter starts to foam and smell nutty, it’s time to add the marshmallows.
- Gently melt the marshmallows in the brown butter over medium - low heat. Stir frequently and just until the marshmallows and browned butter form a smooth mixture. Avoid the temptation to over mix or rush this process. Doing so can create hard marshmallow treats.
- Don’t overmix. Stir the cereal and gooey marshmallows together until the cereal is fully coated. Once the reserved mini marshmallows are mixed in, keep the mixing to a minimum.
- Prepare the pan. Lightly grease the pan with cooking spray or butter and line the pan with wax paper or foil before transferring cereal and marshmallow mixture into the pan. Press the mixture gently into the pan. This needs to be just enough to get them to stick together.
FAQs
Brown butter is butter that has been gently cooked over low-medium heat. While the butter heats up, water is released and the fat falls to the bottom of the pan. The fat gets toasted, turns a light brown color and develops a nutty fragrance and flavor.
This typically happens when the marshmallows are melted quickly over high heat or when left on the heat source too long. Melt the marshmallows low, slow and only as long as needed for the marshmallows to almost fully melt. Also make sure to gently press the gooey cereal treats into the pan.
These nutty marshmallow treat bars are gooiest and are best enjoyed the day they are made. However, if they are made in advance (no more than a day before), fully cover the pan with plastic wrap to prevent air from drying out the treats.
More Brown Butter Recipes to Try
- Brown Butter Blondies
- Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
- Brown Butter Banana Bread
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you try this Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats Recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking!
Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large sauce pan or small pot
- 1 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan
- 1 sheet wax paper or foil
- 1 spoon or silicone spatula
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons (170 g) unsalted butter
- 20 oz. mini marshmallows (2) 10 oz. bags
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 9 cups (240 g) Rice Krispie cereal
Instructions
- Grease and line a 9 x 13 pan with wax paper or foil along the bottom and two sides of the pan.
- In a sauce pan or pot, melt the butter on low heat until the butter to begins to foam. Once it starts to foam, whisk or stir the liquid butter frequently. The butter will begin to smell nutty and very fragrant. Once the foam has subsided, the butter should have some brown, lightly toasted bits floating at the bottom.12 tablespoons (170 g) unsalted butter
- As soon as the butter has browned, add the marshmallows. Stir continuously over low heat until the marshmallows are mostly melted. Once the marshmallows are mostly melted remove the pot from the heat.20 oz. mini marshmallows
- Stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Add the rice krispie cereal directly to the pan if possible. If not, make sure all the cereal is in a large bowl and pour the melted marshmallows directly into the bowl of cereal. Quickly and carefully stir the cereal and gooey browned butter marshmallows together until well combined. Add the reserved 2 cups mini marshmallows into the cereal treats until just combined.1 teaspoon vanilla extract , ½ teaspoon salt , 9 cups (240 g) Rice Krispie cereal
- Evenly scoop the gooey and nutty cereal treats into the prepared pan. Gently press the browned butter rice crispy treats into place. Allow the treats to set for at least 30 - 60 minutes, then slice and enjoy.
Notes
- 9 tablespoons (128 g) unsalted butter
- 7 cups mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 cups cereal
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