Brown Butter Rice Cereal Treats are everything you loved in the iconic childhood favorite grown up a bit. Deep rich brown butter and sea salt make this soft, chewy no-bake dessert irresisitble. Gluten-free or regular options.
I fell in love with making rice cereal treats over the holiday break. As much as I love to bake, I wanted to soak up family time and frankly take a rest from the kitchen. ‘Rice Krispy treats’ are something that fell off our radar when we first became gluten-free because there was no rice cereal that was gluten-free. Fortunately, times have changed.
I did a lot of experimenting over the break as each batch of rice cereal treats seemed to disappear within a day or two of making them. I tried several different flavorings but what emerged as our favorite were Brown Butter Rice Cereal Treats. A bit of sea salt is the icing on the cake creating a wonderful buttery, sweet, salty mix.
The reason I love making rice cereal treats to much besides the great flavor and chewy texture is how easy they are. Being a no bake treat, a chunk of time is removed from the equation. Everything is mixed in a large skillet or saucepan on the stovetop and folded into a prepared pan to set. Before you know it, you are cutting up irresistible squares…..with a line behind you if you are in my kitchen!
What Do Brown Butter Rice Cereal Treats Taste Like?
‘Browning butter’ is allowing it to cook passed melting until it develops a deep, toasty color and nutty flavor and aroma. The milk solids separate and float to the bottom of the pan looking like dark flecks. It has a rich flavor that is distinctly different than plain melted butter.
When added into the rice cereal treats it elevates the flavor with a rich warm tone to complement the sugary sweetess from the melted marshmallows. The sea salt makes the flavors come alive with the salty contrast. They are simple yet sophisticated and easy to make treats!
How to Make Brown Butter Rice Cereal Treats – Step by Step:
After the pan is lined with foil and sprayed with non-stick spray, the butter is melted in a large, preferably light colored, skillet (to best monitor the change of the butter and avoid burning) over medium heat. Once the butter has cooked to a deep golden color with a nutty aroma, the marshmallows, vanilla and sea salt are added and folded in until the marshmallows have melted.
TIP: Use a silicon spatula to combine the melted marshmallows, butter and rice cereal which makes it easier to scrape the mixture off the spatula. Also, a trick I use is to spray the spatula with non-stick spray which helps the mixture from sticking to the spatula.
The mixture is removed from the heat, rice cereal is fully incorporated and the mixture is spooned into the prepared pan to cool before cutting!
TRICK to make cutting easy: A 9 by 9 square pan is lined with foil, allowing the foil to extend past the edge of the pan on all sides by at least 1-inch. When the rice cereal treats are done, lift them out of the pan, flatten the foil to cut them. Much easier than doing it in the pan.
More No-Bake Dessert Recipes to try:
- Peanut Butter Lovers Chocolate Chip Mug Cake (gluten-free)
- No Bake Gluten-Free Millionaire Bars
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Strawberry Tart
- Fast Easy Popcorn Balls
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Recipe
Brown Butter Rice Cereal Treats
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons Unsalted Butter (1 stick)
- 6 cups Mini Marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 6 cups crispy Rice Cereal gluten-free or regular
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch by 9-inch pan with foil allowing an overhang over each edge by at least 1 inch. Spray with non-stick spray.
- In a large light-colored skillet melt the butter over medium heat, stirring often. Allow the butter to continue to cook until it turns deep golden brown, develops dark particles in the bottom, has a nutty aroma and is slightly foamy (about 3-4 minutes). Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Add the marshmallows, vanilla extract and sea salt. Stir constantly, folding the marshmallows into the butter, until the marshmallows have fully melted (3-4 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in the rice cereal, full coating it with the marshmallow mixture. Fold into the prepared pan and press down to compress. Allow to fully cool and cut into squares.
Martha Butscher seales says
I make rice krispies treat and always looking for improved Krispy treats.I can’t wait to try them.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
They sure look tasty!
Veronica Vilora Solomon says
Oh wow! They do make for a great snack. What toppings, if any, would you add to that?
Toni Dash says
Gosh they are pretty perfect like this!
Liz says
I need an excuse to make these! Maybe to send to my youngest 🙂 Yup, good plan!!!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
This is a new and more delicious way to make rice cereal treats. I will make some for my grandchildren for when they visit this weekend. I am sure they will love this and ask me for a whole lot more so they can take it home with them. 🙂
Dogvills says
What a nice treat! I did know know that those dark particles are the milk solids. I always use a strainer to remove them but not anymore. Thanks for the info and the recipe!
Toni Dash says
I like the look of the milk solids in the rice cereal treats actually! You can strain them but don’t need to!
Tonia says
Mmmmm, looks good. We’ve been making rice krispy treats all week. I have a weekness for them.