Doesn’t get much better than these Caramel Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats… Rich & flavorful, cheap & easy.
Such a sweet staple. A quintessential comfort food. Effortless to whip up. Who doesn’t LOVE a good, old-fashioned, homemade Rice Krispie Treat? Apparently, my husband Nathan. He couldn’t have cared less about Rice Krispie Treats, but when I added Caramel Marshmallow and Brown Butter to the mix… He’s a believer now.
And, honestly, HOW could he NOT be?
These Caramel Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats blow any competitor out of the way. In fact, it’s really not even a competition at all. These. Are. The. BEST. As long as you go into making these with a little prep and forethought, there’s really no excuse not to go all the way for PERFECTION.
Your family will thank you. You will thank you… And then, you’ll thank me. And, hey, you’re welcome!
Prep: The Effort Pays Off
I’ve touted the benefits more than once about toasting sugar. Granted, I got off to a rough start with my sugar toasting adventures (read about that here), but it’s become virtually EFFORTLESS since then.
Added bonus: every time I toast sugar, my house smells like a Buccee’s. IYKYK: that sweet, cinnamon, and brown sugary smell of their apple pies, candied pecans, and Beaver Nuggets that just fills your nose and speaks to your gastronomic SOUL. Yep, that’s what my kitchen smells like on Sugar Toasting Day.
Just plan for a Sugar Toasting Day when you already know you’ll be home. Maybe while you’re doing some spring cleaning or taking a down day on a weekend, it’s an easy add to the agenda. And well worth it for the result. Here’s a link to some more specific directions, but basically:
Grab some extra-fine granulated sugar/caster sugar for better results. Especially if, like me, you have an uneven oven. Whomp-whomp. You can use a 4-lb bag to yield several cups to have a stock on hand. Toast that sugar over several hours at a low temp, stirring intermittently (every half hour), so that you take it close to its melting point without going over.
Then, you are Good to Go!
Once you’ve toasted sugar, your heaviest prep-work for my granulated caramel recipes is already done! Now, you have what you need to dive into making my PERFECT Key Lime Pie Ice Cream or Caramel Whipped Cream. Or maybe you want to whip up some of my Whipshots imitations for some boozy dessert topping.
But my Caramel Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats recipe? This one is really the Holy Grail of the toasted sugar recipes I’ve written. This is the ONE. If you don’t try any other recipe I’ve written that incorporates granulated caramel, that’s fine. You just HAVE to try this one.
Which means you need to take a minute to read my super simple Caramel Marshmallow recipe. You can check that out here. One 9×9 pan of Caramel Marshmallow should cover your needs for this Caramel Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats recipe.
Sweet Storage for Sweet Treats
Let’s be honest:
You’re gonna absolutely smash these as soon as you get your first taste. No judgment. I can’t keep these around my house either.
HOWEVER, if you SOMEHOW manage to have enough left over that you need to store them, I recommend cutting them into bars and transferring them into an airtight Stasher bag. Can’t recommend Stasher bags enough for their versatility, eco-friendliness, and sleek multi-purpose functionality.
Grab a pack here. At the very least, add a pack to your Save for Later cart, since they run sales pretty frequently on their Amazon storefront.
I digress, but really any airtight container is fine. These are best kept at room temperature for a couple days. But, again, I doubt they’ll last long enough for you to seriously worry about it.
Whip some up as a PERFECT Easter treat. Toss some cute, festive sprinkles on those bad boys (while they’re setting up) like I did, and watch your family Go. To. TOWN. Yum yum!
If you actually read this SUPER IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT and TAKE IT TO HEART that YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE ASAP… If you do make these… Please let me know!
Tag me @the_mamasaur in your #caramelbrownbutterricekrispietreats (LOL, #cbbrkt is fine) pictures on IG, comment here, or shoot me an email to let me know how it went! And share the SWEET news with your friends.
Your delicious deliverance from boring, store-bought Rice Krispie Treats is finally here.
Caramel Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 1 9 x 13 Baking Dish (I recommend glass)
- 1 Large Stainless Steel Stock Pot
- 1 Heat-safe Silicone/Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 sticks Unsalted Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste
- 20 oz Caramel Marshmallow, cubed (see recipe link in notes)
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt (I recommend Diamond Brand)
- 9 cups Rice Cereal
- SPRINKLES!!! (optional)
Instructions
- Prep a 9 x13" glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray. If you haven't already, also take this time to cube the Caramel Marshmallow. 1" cubes should be sufficient. You just want it to be able to melt down easily.
- Add the 2 sticks of unsalted butter into your large stainless steel stock pot, and melt it over med-low heat. Stir it occasionally, and watch it closely, as brown butter can turn into burnt butter in a matter of seconds. Once the butter is melted, it will begin to audibly pop. When that stops, continue to stir and watch as the butter solids begin to change color from white to a dark amber.
- When the browned butter is aromatic and smells nutty, reduce the heat to low, and add in the Vanilla Bean Paste, Kosher Salt, and Caramel Marshmallows.
- Stir the Caramel Marshmallow Butter mixture constantly until the Marshmallow has completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Add in the Rice Cereal and quickly stir with the Spatula until everything is well-incorporated.
- Transfer the Rice Cereal Marshmallow mixture into your glass baking dish, and spread it evenly. Don't compress it too compactly! It will solidify more as it cools and sets.
- Optional Step: Add sprinkles once the mixture is spread and before allowing it to cool, so that the sprinkles better adhere to the Rice Krispie Treats!
- Allow to cool for about an hour at room temperature. Cut into 16 bars; then, either store or ENJOY!
