brown butter rice krispie treats stacked with parchment paper

Best Rice Krispies

If you grew up with Rice Krispies like most of us did as kids, you are no stranger to the simple but delicious combination of marshmallows, butter and toasted rice cereal. Its an easy no-bake treat that is a classic dessert. When it comes to flavors it is light and simple. Best of all, it only takes 15 minutes to whip up!

Rice Krispies are such a simple and unassuming ingredients, but they can be turned into something quite amazing. These Crunchy Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars are the perfect example!

Crunchy Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars

brown butter rice krispie treats on table and hands pulling two bars apart

Unique Rice Krispie Treats

For these Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats, we added one 5 minute step to transform them into a treat that adults will be begging for more of! By cooking the butter for a few minutes until it becomes a toasty brown color with a delicious nutty flavor, it adds a depth of flavor like nothing else can.

The rich browned butter paired with the sweet marshmallows and the crunch from the Rice Krispies is absolute perfection. If you love your sweet and salty treats, add a sprinkle of flaked sea salt to the top of the bars before cooling them and you will be in heaven!

brown butter rice krispie treats wrapped in parchment and twine

How to Brown Butter

Browning butter only takes a few minutes, but it’s important that you keep a close eye on it and don’t attempt to multi-task. Focus on the color of the butter and you will have the perfect golden brown nutty butter for your Rice Krispie Bars.

In a large kettle, melt the butter over medium heat, whisking occasionally. The butter will start to foam and then begin to brown after 3-4 minutes. When you smell the nutty butter flavor and it has turned an even brown color, add your marshmallows and lower the heat to low.

It’s important not to overcook the butter or the fats will quickly burn and you will have to start over with a new stick of butter. It’s a fine line between browned butter Rick Krispies and burnt butter treats.

Stir the marshmallows constantly until they are completely melted and mix in a splash of vanilla extract. Add the toasted rice cereal and stir until well combined.

mini marshmallows stirred with brown butter

Tips for making the best Rice Krispie Treats

When making Rice Krispies, you want to work relatively quickly once the marshmallows are melted. They will begin to cool quickly and set up, so you want to get them into a buttered pan as soon as all the ingredients are well mixed.

Here are just a few suggestions that will make your life easier and result in the best rice krispie treats.

Generously butter your 9×13 pan on the bottom and sides. This helps avoid sticking, so your bars slide right out of the pan.

Measure out your toasted rice cereal before you get started. This way it is ready to go when your marshmallows are melted so your sugar doesn’t overcook.

Use a large kettle that will easily accommodate all the ingredients so you only have to use one pot to make these easy no bake treats.

Oil or butter your hands generously while pressing the rice krispie treats into the greased pan. Continue to add additional butter to your hands as they become sticky. We are making yummy chewy treats that will want to stick to your hands if they aren’t properly greased.

Be sure to firmly press the mixture into the pan. If you leave it loose, the bars will fall apart and not stick together well. This will lead to them drying out quickly.

Pop your treats in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool them down quickly so you can steal a treat ASAP! Use a sharp knife to cut all the bars right out of the refrigerator for nice clean cuts.

brown butter rice krispie treats pulled apart with hands

brown butter rice krispie treats tied with butchers twine

Fun ideas for serving rice krispie treats

These brown butter rice krispie treats are amazing all on their own and need no additional effort, besides sitting back with a tall glass of water and savoring every last bite.

If you are looking to transform these extra special rice krispies into a holiday treat or something unique, here are a few fun ideas

If your bars start to get a bit stale, head into the backyard and pop a rice krispie treat on a roasting stick and toast over a campfire with the kids for a couple minutes until it is soft and has a little bit of char on it.

Add a popsicle stick to the center of each square, making a popsicle treat and dip half of the treat in melted chocolate. Let them cool on parchment paper until the chocolate is set.

In the winter, transform your rice krispies into a sweet holiday snack mix along side these cute chocolate and pretzel reindeer.

Serve these sweet and salty treats with chocolate fondue for an unforgettable dessert spread.