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These Browned Butter Rice Krispie Treats take the classic RKT recipe to the next level with rich, nutty, golden browned butter and a sweet browned butter glaze! This is one of my most requested recipes to bring to family events!
I know, I know. Rice Krispies Treats are so 1977. And yet, here I am in the midst of a ridiculous rice krispies treat obsession.
I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop. I just want to put all of these RKTs in my face as fast as humanly possible.
We have shared a lot of rice krispies treats over the years, but these browned butter rice krispie treats are the one that started the obsession for me. I first shared this recipe back in 2013 and I’m just now updating it with new photos that hopefully do a better job of showing how freakin’ delicious these are.
What We Love About Browned Butter Rice Krispie Treats:
Easy: Have you ever made RKTs? They’re one of the easiest no bake treats out there and adding a simple browned butter glaze isn’t hard, but it does take them to the next level of out of this world good.
Fan Favorite: My family can not get enough of these. I’ve literally made four batches in one week. Two batches went to work with the husband, a half batch went to my parents, and the remaining one and half batches went straight in the rice krispies treat shaped hole in my face.
Budget Friendly: A box of cereal, a bag of marshmallows, and some butter. These are fairly cheap to make, which is nice because we make them for friends all the time.
That Glaze: Back in 2013, when I first shared this recipe, browned butter was all the rage. I think the craze has died off a little bit, but I don’t know why. Browned butter + powdered sugar is the most magical combination and I should know. I’ve put it on all kinds of things like these pumpkin donuts, this moist pumpkin bread recipe, these brown butter pecan cookies, and these cinnamon donuts.
Brown Butter Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 3/4 cups butter, divided
- 7 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 9 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, melt 1/4 cup of the butter over medium. Whisk constantly until the butter turns a golden brown. As it melts and begins to brown it will foam quite a bit. Keep whisking until the foam dies down and you can see the browned bits in the butter. Do not let get overly browned/burnt.
- Immediately add the marshmallows to the pan and continue stirring until the marshmallows have melted. Remove from the heat and pour in the cereal. Stir to coat.
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment or wax paper and press the cereal mixture into the pan. Use another sheet of parchment or wax paper to press the treats into place in the pan.
- In a small sauce pan, melt the remaining 1/2 cup of butter over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the butter turns a golden brown. As it melts and begins to brown it will foam quite a bit. Keep whisking until the foam dies down and you can see the browned bits in the butter. Do not let get overly browned/burnt.
- Remove the butter from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth. It will be clumpy at first, but will turn smooth as the sugar melts.
- Pour the hot glaze over the krispies treats and smooth it over the top. Let sit until hardened, about 1 hour.
- Cut into small squares and serve.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Ingredient Notes:
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Rice Krispies – Like every RKT recipe this one starts with Rice Krispies Cereal! You’ll need 7 cups to make these classic treats.
Butter – This is an essential ingredient in any Rice Krispie Treats recipe, but especially in this one! You’ll brown the butter until it’s nice and golden before it gets mixed up with the marshmallow and cereal. So much flavor!
Marshmallows – We prefer to use mini marshmallows as they melt quickly and evenly.
Brown Butter Glaze – To make the topping for these Rice Krispies Treats you’ll prepare more of the browned butter and mix it up with some powdered sugar to make a simple sweet brown butter glaze!
How To Make Rice Krispie Treats:
Brown Butter: To begin you’ll start by melting a 1/4 cup of the butter over medium heat while whisking constantly until turns a golden brown. The butter will foam aggressively as it starts to brown – just keep whisking it. Once the foam starts to die down a bit, it’s about down. You want a rich, golden color. Watch it closely to make sure it does not burn!
Marshmallows: As soon as the butter has browned add the marshmallows to the pot and continue stirring until they have melted into the butter, then remove the pot from the heat.
Helpful Tip!
It’s important that you do not burn the butter when you are browning it, and to remove the marshmallow from the heat as soon as it has melted. If you overcook the marshmallow, you’ll end up with chard and crunchy RKTs instead of crisp and gooey.
Cereal: After removing from the heat you can pour in the Rice Krispies Cereal. Stir the mixture well to coat the cereal.
Transfer: Line a 9×13 pan with either parchment or wax paper and transfer the cereal mixture to it. Use another sheet of parchment or wax paper to press the treats into an even layer in the pan.
How To Make Brown Butter Glaze:
Glaze: Add 1/2 cup of the butter to a saucepan over medium heat while whisking constantly until turns a golden brown. The butter will foam aggressively as it starts to brown – just keep whisking it. Once the foam starts to die down a bit, it’s about down. You want a rich, golden color. Watch it closely to make sure it does not burn!
Powdered Sugar: Once the butter is browned, remove it from the heat and add the powdered sugar.
Whisk: Whisk together the powdered sugar and butter until the mixture is smooth. It will start out clumpy, but as the heat of the butter melts the sugar it will loosen up and smooth out.
Glaze: Pour the glaze over the RKTs and spread it out with a spoon or offset spatula. Let it sit out until the glaze has hardened, about 1 hour. Finally, cut into squares and serve!
FAQ’s:
Rice Krispies Treats are best enjoyed within 2-3 days, though they will last longer. The longer they are stored, the less crisp and more soft they will get.
You can freeze this RKT recipe for about two to three months. First slice the treats into bars or squares after cooling and wrap each one in plastic wrap or wax paper before sealing in a freezer bag.
Rice is gluten free but many brands of cereal, including Kellogg’s, contain gluten, so you would need to find a gluten free brand of cereal and make sure that the marshmallows you are using are also gluten free.
MORE CEREAL BAR RECIPES!
- Snickerdoodle Rice Krispie Treats
- Golden Graham Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
- Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
- Lucky Charms Treats
- Cheerio Bars
- M&M Rice Krispies Treats
This recipe was originally published in 2013. Original photo below:
Ellie says
These were the best rice krispy treats I’ve ever eaten! The browned butter glaze was a great addition!
Karly Campbell says
I’m so glad you loved these!! They’re a favorite of mine. 🙂
Brittany Benners says
The first time I made the glaze it came out thick, and then the more I stirred it, the butter and sugar started to seperate. It was the weirdest thing. But I finally figured it out, I did it in a much smaller pan and whisked it really quickly and it came out perfectly. Just thought I would add this comment for anyone else struggling with the glaze! These look amazing and I can’t wait to try them once they cool!
Mike says
Made the frosting. but I must have kept on stove too long. Was dark brown, poured it on scotcheroos and the frosting kind of stiffened up and didnt really spread as I had hoped
Karly says
Oh no, I’ve never had that problem with it stiffening up. It shouldn’t get too dark brown or your butter is burnt, but not sure why that would make it stiffen up.
Jenn J says
You are a genius. Just made these for Friendsgiving and added a little vanilla and cinnamon into the marshmallow mixture and they are AMAZING. 🙂
Karly says
Glad to hear you enjoyed these! 🙂
Susan says
Made these to help my coworkers ease into yet another Monday. Added a touch of cinnamon to the glaze for that “fall touch.” Love them!
Jennifer says
Wow! These are off the charts delicious!! Thank you!
Shannon says
Karly, I just made this recipe and I am going nuts waiting until they set up–the perfect treat! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Karly says
Hope you enjoyed them!
Jessica says
THESE WERE SO GOOD!!! I am still trying to get my browsing butter technique down still,-my glaze was more of a frosting texture – but the hubby & I devoured them!!
Karly says
So glad you liked them!
Dina says
they sound yummy!