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Brown Butter Rice Krispie Squares

Nutty brown butter and a touch of salt make this classic treat more delicious and flavourful than the original.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cooling1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Brown Butter, Marshmallow, Rice Krispie, Squares
Servings: 9 squares
Author: adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (4 oz, 114g) unsalted butter, cubed
  • cups (285g) mini marshmallows*
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract (optional)
  • 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal

Instructions

  • Grease a square pan (8 or 9 inch) with cooking spray or butter.
  • In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Keep cooking it, stirring frequently. The butter will foam and sizzle. Within 5-8 minutes from when you started, the milk solids at the bottom of the pan will turn a deep golden brown and it will smell nutty (see photo below). Stir, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
  • Once the butter is browned, remove the pan from the heat and add the marshmallows. Stir constantly until marshmallows are melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the salt and the vanilla and stir to combine.
  • Working quickly, add the Rice Krispies to the pot and stir until they are evenly coated in marshmallow. Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly, pressing down firmly with a spatula. Let cool completely, then cut into squares.

Notes

  • I prefer mini marshmallows because they melt faster due to their small size, but full sized marshmallows are fine too.
  • For more tips on browning butter, visit Sally's Baking Addiction