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Home » Recipes » traditional flavors

brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

Published: Jan 13, '21 · Modified: Mar 10, '23 · By: Meaghan Mountford · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Brown butter Rice Krispie treats are just as easy to make as the classic Rice Krispie Treat recipe, but browning the butter first adds just a hint of nutty, rich flavor. 

brown butter rice krispie treats

brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

Three-ingredient brown butter Rice Krispie Treats are a game changer. Using brown butter in place of regular butter in this easy recipe adds a touch of complexity to a simple dessert.

When you're asked "What is in these Rice Krispie Treats to make them so good?" impress with your answer, "brown butter."

Below, I'll share how to make a batch of treats in an 8-inch square pan, but I'll also give you the ingredients for a larger, 9 x 13-inch pan. I'll also share exactly how many marshmallows you need to end confusion. Be sure to check out our BEST Rice Krispie Treat recipe for the best basics.

front view of brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats on blue glass plate

how to make brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

You'll only need three ingredients! Cocoa Krispies cereal, marshmallows (either mini or regular), and butter!

supplies you'll need

  • 8-inch square baking pan
  • non-stick cooking spray
  • non-stick foil

ingredients you'll need

  • 4 ⅔ cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 4 tablespoons salted European butter
  • 10 ounces marshmallows (about 40 regular or 6 cups mini)

let's make cereal treats!

I recommend spraying your bowls and spatulas with cooking spray.

First, spray your baking pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter or line with non-stick foil. You may also use lightly-sprayed regular foil. (Instructions for Rice Krispie treats in a 9 x 13-inch pan are below.)

Add the Rice Krispies to a large, greased bowl and set aside.

Brown the 4 tablespoons of the butter in a light-colored saucepan. See the instructions below!

Add the marshmallows, reduce heat to medium-low, stirring, and remove from heat when marshmallows are almost melted. Stir until the mixture is very smooth, using the residual heat to fully melt the marshmallows.

brown butter rice krispie treats recipe -- how to brown butter

brown butter rice krispie treats recipe -- in saucepan

Scrape the marshmallow and butter mixture into the cereal and use a spatula to fold the mixture into the cereal until it's completely blended.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Use a clean spatula to gently press the treats evenly into the baking dish.

Let the dish cool very well and cut into two-inch squares.

brown butter rice krispie treats recipe -- in baking pan cut in squares

how do you make brown butter?

You can use "brown butter" as a substitute for butter in a recipe, either savory or sweet, to add a rich, nutty flavor to the dish. And it's so easy to make!

Just melt butter over heat until it browns. (You can also find these instructions at our other site, when making brown butter pecan fudge.)

Place your butter in a saucepan with a light-colored bottom, so you can easily note the color of the butter. For this  Rice Krispie treat recipe, you'll need 4 tablespoons of salted butter (or 6 tablespoons for a larger batch).

Set over medium heat. Swirl the pan or use a spatula to occasionally stir the butter. The butter will foam and then darken to a deep brown. This may only take about five minutes, so keep your eye on the saucepan. You will see sediment from the milk solids sink to the bottom of the pan.

how to I make a larger batch of brown butter cereal treats?

To make a larger batch of these cereal treats, grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Use a combination of

  • 16 ounces marshmallows
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • 7  cups Rice Krispies cereal

Cut into 28 squares.

overhead image of stacked brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats

how many marshmallows do I use to make Rice Krispie Treats?

You may use either regular-size marshmallows or mini marshmallows. Bags of marshmallows come in 10 ounces, 12 ounces, and 16 ounces, so it's useful to have these measurements to make any size batch you like with what you have on hand. I prefer to use a kitchen scale, but if you don't own one, here is what we've found (but use the weight on the bag as a guide):

If using regular-size marshmallows

      • 16 ounces is about 68 regular-size marshmallows
      • 10 ounces is about 40 marshmallows

If using mini marshmallows

      • 16 ounces is just over 9 cups of mini marshmallows
      • 10 ounces is 6 cups of mini marshmallows

TIP: The above measurements are based on using "Jet-Puffed" brand marshmallows. Different brands have slightly different weights, so this is just a general guide.

  • 7-8 marshmallows = 1 cup of mini marshmallows
  • There are approximately 40-48 marshmallows in a 10 ounce bag and 64-70 in a 16 ounce bag.

check out this video how to make brown butter cereal bars

printable brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

brown butter rice krispie treats

brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

Meaghan Mountford
Delicious, 3-ingredient brown butter Rice Krispie Treats, an easy, sophisticated dessert idea. 
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Cool for 2 hours hrs
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 treats
Calories 115 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 10 ounces marshmallows (about 40 marshmallows or 6 cups mini)
  • 4 ⅔ cup Rice Krispies cereal

Instructions
 

  • Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray or butter and set aside. 
  • Place the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Heat the butter, swirling the pan and occasionally stirring with a spatula. The butter will foam, turn a caramel color, and then turn a dark brown color. Watch so the butter does not burn. 
  • Add the marshmallows to the saucepan and turn the heat to medium low. Heat until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth, frequently stirring.
  • Have the Rice Krispies ready in a large bowl. Pour the marshmallow and butter mixture over the cereal. Fold together with a spatula and transfer to the baking dish. 
  • Use a clean spatula to press the treats evenly in the pan. Let cool completely, about 2 hours. 
  • Cut into 2-inch squares. 

Notes

To make a larger batch, use a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, 16 ounces of marshmallows, 7 cups of Rice Krispie Treats, and 6 tablespoons of salted butter. 
Keyword brown butter Rice Krispie Treats

brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats stacked with title brown butter Rice krispie treats with blue glass plate in background

This post was originally posted in June 2019 and updated in January 2021.

If you love cereal bars and crispy treats, check out these:

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chocolate Rice Krispie Treats 

Oreo Rice Krispie Treats 

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s'mores Rice Krispie Treats 

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We love creating easy Rice Krispie Treats recipes to share with you and hope you find our tips and instructions helpful. ___ - Beth and Meaghan
rate the recipe Did you make this recipe and think it was great or do have any questions? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe using stars (5 stars is the best!)   

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Dannie Troup

    July 26, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    5 stars
    What a great idea. I love the flavor of brown butter and it really enhances the flavor of the rice krispie treat.

    Reply
  2. Nettie

    December 22, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    5 stars
    YUM!

    Reply

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