Brown Butter Sea Salt Rice Krispie Treats (a Fancy Twist on a Classic)
Some recipes are about elegance, artistry, and complex flavors. This is not one of those recipes. This is about golden-brown butter, gooey marshmallows, and crispy cereal squares that taste like childhood, but make it gourmet.
These brown butter Rice Krispie treats come together fast, use pantry basics, and still manage to feel a little extra thanks to the browned butter and sea salt sprinkle. They’re perfect for potlucks, lazy Sundays, or that moment when you’re craving dessert and refuse to turn on the oven.
No need to scroll to the bottom of the page for this recipe. It’s right here haha. If you want to read the text and check out my photos with the recipe, keep on scrolling down.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (plus more for sprinkling)
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions:
Brown the Butter – In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Keep cooking it until it turns golden brown and smells like caramelized heaven (about 3–5 minutes). Watch it closely!! It goes from toasty to tragic fast. This will be your hardest step.
Melt the Marshmallows – Lower the heat and stir in the mini marshmallows until they’re fully melted and sticky enough to glue your soul back together.
Add the Flavor – Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and sea salt. This is your flavor upgrade moment.
Mix in the Cereal – Add the Rice Krispies and stir until everything is well-coated and dreamy.
Press & Salt – Press the mixture into a greased 9x13” dish. Sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top like you’re the fancy chef you are.
Cool & Slice – Let them cool, cut into squares, and try not to eat six in one sitting. (No judgment if you do.)
Why You’ll Love These:
They’re nostalgic with a grown-up glow-up
You only need one pot (bless)
That flaky sea salt? Chef’s kiss.
Ready in 15 minutes. Literally.
Recipe WITH photos and yap:
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (plus more for sprinkling)
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions:
Brown the Butter – In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Keep cooking it until it turns golden brown and smells like caramelized heaven (about 3–5 minutes). Watch it closely!! It goes from toasty to tragic fast. This will be your hardest step. I didn’t take a photo of this because I was too busy concentrating hahah.
Melt the Marshmallows – Lower the heat and stir in the mini marshmallows until they’re fully melted and sticky enough to glue your soul back together.
3. Add the Flavor – Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and sea salt. This is your flavor upgrade moment.
4. Mix in the Cereal – Add the Rice Krispies and stir until everything is well-coated and dreamy.
5. Press & Salt – Press the mixture into a greased 9x13” dish. Sprinkle a little extra sea salt on top like you’re the fancy chef you are.
6. Cool & Slice – Let them cool, cut into squares, and try not to eat six in one sitting. (No judgment if you do.)
They’re simple. They’re extra. They’re everything you didn’t know a cereal bar could be. And if you’re like me and forgot to snap a pic of what you were reading while they cooled, just say you were too busy licking the spoon. Priorities.