Okay, so we all know rice krispie treats are amazing. I mean, who doesn't love marshmallows, cereal, and butter?! But a few years ago my dear friend, Weronika, introduced me to a brown butter rice krispie treat and my life hasn't been the same since. Honestly, I know it sounds goofy, but these are like the grown up, more sophisticated version of a normal rice krispie treat.
Adding sprinkles was really just my way of making them more festive for the holiday...and you know, super cute. Like these Halloween Rice Krispie Treats. So basically you can customize these for any holiday or event. Or even cut them with a cute cookie cutter.
I hope you love these babies as much as I do! Let me know if you do!
Table of Contents
Cutting Rice Krispies into Shapes
For this, I like to make my rice krispie treats thinner. So I use 2 baking sheets (still prepared with parchment paper! That way it's easier to cut with a cookie cutter.
Then, use the cookie cutter to cut out shapes while slightly warm. Use the leftover krispies to reshape and cut again. You still need the mixture warm. If it dries/cools, you won't be able to reshape. Or just eat all the leftovers at home! ha.
Simple 3 Ingredient Icing
A simple icing can be used to decorate a rice krispie treat. I like to use about ⅔ cup powder sugar (sifted), 1-2 tablespoon milk or milk alternative, and ½ teaspoon vanilla (or other extract). Mix with a whisk and drizzle.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of unsalted butter, or if you use salted forget the salt below (2 sticks)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 20 ounces of marshmallows (2 regular sized bags)
- 1 Box of Rice Krispies cereal (12 ounces)
- 4 tablespoon of sprinkles for mixing, plus 1 tablespoon of sprinkles for topping
Brown Butter Sea Salt Rice Krispie Treats
- Line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper (and grease sides).
- In a large 5-8 qt. pot add butter over a medium-low heat. Melt the butter until completely melted. Then keep stirring as the butter browns...from melted, to dark golden, to a brown and nutty fragranced mixture. This usually takes about 4-6 minutes. You don't want it to burn, so keep a close eye on it. Mix in salt.
- Slowly stir in marshmallows about 1 cup at a time until incorporated well. I use a wooden spoon as it's sturdiest.
- Turn off heat and mix in the cereal, about ½-1 cup at a time.
- Add in 1 tablespoon of sprinkles until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Scoop mixture into the prepared baking dish and push down mixture until it has a flattened surface (can use hands, spoon, or bottom of a cup greased).
- Let cool, remove from pan, slice, and enjoy!
FAQs
A few tips I have…1)Keep your eyes on it, keep stirring and scrapping the bottom of the pot. the bottom pieces should be brown and not black. 2) Smell it. Make sure you’re smelly a nice toasted smell. If it starts to smell burnt, remove it.
So, you can definitely swap out the butter for something like Earth Balance. However, I did have issues using vegan marshmallows when I tried this. Maybe if you have a good brand that will truly and fully melt, then that could work!
Other Treats to Try
- Gooey Butter Cake Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Buttercream Filling
- Holiday Cookie Box
- Molasses Cookies
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Graham Cracker Crumble Soft Butter Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Oatmeal Cookies
- Lucky Charms Cookies
Love this Recipe?
Did you make this recipe and just love it? Awesome! If you have a quick minute and could leave a star rating and comment below, I would appreciate the support and knowing your feedback! And if you’re over on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your photos!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 20 ounces marshmallows
- 1 box of Rice Krispies cereal 12 ounces
- 4 tablespoon sprinkles plus 1 tablespoon of sprinkles for topping, optional
Instructions
- Line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper (and grease sides).
- In a large 5-8 qt. pot add butter over a medium-low heat. Melt the butter until completely melted. Then keep stirring as the butter browns - from melted, to dark golden, to a brown and nutty fragranced mixture. This usually takes about 4-6 minutes. You don't want it to burn, so keep a close eye on it. Mix in salt.
- Slowly stir in marshmallows about 1 cup at a time until incorporated well. I use a wooden spoon as it's sturdiest.
- Turn off heat and mix in the cereal, about ½-1 cup at a time.
- Add in 1 tablespoon of sprinkles at a time (4 Tbsp) until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Scoop mixture into the prepared baking dish and push down mixture until it has a flattened surface (can use hands, spoon, or bottom of a cup greased). Top with remaining 1 tablespoon of sprinkles.
- Let cool, remove from pan, slice, and enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Lindsey says
I made these for a small holiday gathering and they were a huge hit! Everyone kept commenting on them! The brown butter really takes these to the next level. Yum!
Amanda Wilens says
Aw! I'm so glad to hear that! Brown butter definitely takes them up a notch!
Sarah Floyd says
Try Dandies vegan marshmallows for a great tasting vegan marshmallow that melts great-jusr be sure to use the mini ones!
However, you might actually like them with little piece of marshmallow in them. When I make mine I delebertley do not melt all the marshmallows. I add extra unmelted marshmallows along with the rice krispies cereal so that the treats have solid little pieces of marshmallow in them, just like the gourmet ones that you can buy today in select stores! They are good this way! Try it sometime and see!
Amanda Wilens says
Thanks! Love vegan marshmallows, but I've had issues with them melting. Will have to try that out.
Erica M says
My boyfriend made these for our cookie boxes this past weekend and wouldn't stop bragging about how good they smelled! The brown butter really is a game changer.
wilensamanda says
I'm so glad you both liked them! The brown butter makes it just a little more elevated!
Nicole says
Wow! I've never done rice krispie treats with brown butter. They for sure make for a better dessert. I really love how much more of a complex taste it is. Love this one!
wilensamanda says
Yes! Love these much more than regular ones now.