I’m always intrigued when I flip through a cookbook and find a childhood treat that’s been reinvented by a chef. That was definitely the case when I came across this recipe for rice krispie treats in Joanne Chang’s Flour. Of all the numerous desserts a chef could include in their cookbook, it surprises me (in a good way!) that such a simple snack makes the cut, and I know there must be something special about the recipe. The ingredient list here is short but there are two things that stand out. First, the butter is browned. I’ve yet to find anything that doesn’t get better when you include browned butter, and these treats are no exception – they definitely have a deeper flavor than the childhood version. The recipe also calls for a vanilla bean, and while I loved seeing the little specks of the bean throughout the finished bars, you could absolutely substitute vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste if you wanted since vanilla beans aren’t exactly cheap. The intro to this recipe in the book mentions that these rice krispie treats have become a signature item at the bakery and now I understand why. They’re a great take on a classic childhood treat – similar enough that you’ll recognize them immediately, but with a more grown-up taste. I sent them to work with Shane and they disappeared quickly at his office.
Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
from Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston’s Flour Bakery & Cafe by Joanne Chang
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 vanilla bean (or substitute 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
2 10-oz bags marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
9 cups crispy rice cereal
Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Add the butter to a large saucepan set over low heat. (I used a 4.5 qt pan and I recommend something even bigger.) Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the pan with the butter. The butter will melt then begin to bubble and foam. Eventually it will start to turn brown and smell nutty – be patient and watch carefully, it can go from brown to burned quickly. Once the butter is browned, add all of the marshmallows and the salt. Stir the mixture constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted.
Turn off the heat under the pan and add the cereal. Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to coat the cereal evenly with the buttery, marshmallow liquid. Spread the mixture in an even layer in the prepared baking pan. Let cool for at least an hour before cutting and serving.
You can store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.
these look yummy! back in nashville, i made rice krispy treats with candy corn for halloween – that would be a fun addition to these 🙂
Browned. Butter.
Such a simple edit to the recipe and yet I can see what a total game changer that would be. I agree with you – there isn’t much that doesn’t improve when browned butter is added.
Total tangent: There’s a certain Amish restaurant which is my favorite place in the whole world. And they serve noodles with browned butter. First time I had them? Revelation!! Every time I eat them now I think of that place. SO good!
Oh MY! These are FABULOUS! I’m running to the store for some rice krispies ASAP.
Those look so yummy!!
Wow, what a wonderful way to step up a simple treat!
ooh fancy RK treats! yum
Of all the things I make rice krispie treats are my boyfriends favorite! He says that I make them perfect, so I can’t wait to add browned butter to the mix. Yum!
Oh wow, these look awesome! I love twists on old favorites!
Are you supposed to stir the butter at all when its browning?
How great is this book? How excited are you for our class??!!!!!
@Rose – I usually swirl the pan occasionally just to make sure the butter is browning evenly. If you’ve never browned butter there are some really great resources on the web that’ll step you through it a little better (Google browned butter). Good luck 🙂
@Mary – SO excited!!!
I love rice krispie treats! They are so delicous and sticky. I recently tried a recipe where it called for brown butter, but I didn’t really taste anything spectacutar about it. Maybe it’s just my faulty tastebuds or maybe I didn’t brown it correctly. However, I wouldn’t mind trying it again on this recipe 🙂
I’m making these tomorrow. It’s not even up for debate, it’s happening.
I love the little vanilla bean specks on your marshmallows. My roommates and I always used to make rice krispy treats during college. However, we never let them set-up. We’d just eat them straight from the bowl. This variation sounds good!
I love the flavor of browned butter, and I can imagine what it’ll do to the ubiquitous rice krispie treats – awesome idea really!
Just when you thought rice krispie treats could not be perfected…BROWN BUTTER! Yummmmm
Oh my! I’m going to have to try these soon!
You had me with the picture of marshmallows… They look fantastic! And the rice krispie treats look fab too! I love a great traditional recipe that’s been jazzed up!
Tracey, these rice krispie treats look wonderful! Just in time for Easter. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a great weekend!
I love the idea of using brown butter. It’s really a magical ingredient. I’m going to have to try these soon.
I love the idea of using a vanilla bean!
Browned butter in rice krispie treats? Very grown-up…I might get the whole pan to myself!
What a great twist on a favorite dessert! Wow, gotta try this.
so i tried this recipe and it turned out wonderful… my only problem was when i tried to even to spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet. it kept sticking terribly to the spatula and i couldn’t give it that perfect even surface. could you recommend a method to avoid this in the future?
@Illeana – It’s definitely tricky. I try to work quickly because the mixture does start to set as it cools. You could try spraying your rubber spatula lightly with cooking spray before spreading. I didn’t do that when I made this recipe, but it’s a trick I use sometimes with other recipes. One other thing I could recommend – put a layer of plastic wrap over the top and use your fingers to press the mixture into the pan.
Oh, such a delicious twist on one of my favorites! I need to find an excuse to make these…