If you’re looking for a holiday treat that’s both nostalgic and just a little bit fancy, these Browned Butter Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect addition to your Christmas lineup! The classy (and delicious!) browned butter gives these gooey, crispy squares a hint of sophistication—ideal for cozy gatherings or wrapping up as sweet holiday treats. These Christmas sweets are quick to make, endlessly customizable with festive toppings, and loved by kids and adults alike. Whether sprinkled with red and green sprinkles, drizzled with chocolate, or topped with mini marshmallows, these Browned Butter Rice Krispie Treats bring the warmth of the holiday season to every bite.
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What is Brown Butter? How Do You Brown Butter?
First things first, let’s talk about brown butter. If you’ve never tried it before, you’re in for a treat! Brown butter is essentially butter that has been cooked until its milk solids turn a lovely golden brown. This process intensifies the butter’s flavor, leaving a nutty, caramelized aroma that adds a whole new dimension to your recipes. Browning butter is really a simple trick that can add a whole lot of flavor to your recipes.
How to Brown Butter:
1. Start with unsalted butter: Use unsalted butter to have better control over the saltiness in your final dish.
2. Cut the butter: Cut your butter into smaller chunks or slices to ensure even melting. (I didn’t focus too much on even sizes, as you can see!)
3. Heat over medium-low: Place the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula to prevent sticking and burning.
4. Watch for foaming: The butter will melt and then start to foam. This is the water evaporating from the butter.
5. Keep stirring: Continue stirring as the butter starts to change color. You’ll notice a nutty aroma and brown specks forming at the bottom of the pan. The foam you saw previously will appear to condense a bit.
6. Look for more foam: Then, my foam kind of reverted back to it’s previously form of foaminess, but with less foam. The butter was browner, and the smell of the butter was very nutty. This was the point I chose to stop browning my butter, because I didn’t want to burn it and start all over! I could have stopped when my butter looked like it did for step 5, but I was very happy with the flavor I got from browning just a bit longer.
And that’s it! You have browned butter!
Now, let’s move on to the pro tips for making the perfect Rice Krispie treats!
Pro Tips for Making Easy Rice Krispie Treats
Making Rice Krispie treats is a breeze, but there are a few tips and tricks that can take your dessert game to the next level:
Choose the Right Marshmallows: Opt for fresh marshmallows, and if possible, use miniature ones. They melt more evenly and quickly.
Low and Slow: When melting your marshmallows, use low heat and stir continuously. High heat can result in a sticky mess.
Mix Quickly: Once you add the marshmallows, stir quickly, as they tend to kind of bubble and expand in size. The same thing goes for the Rice Krispies: work swiftly to combine everything. The mixture sets fast, and you want to make sure each crispy bit is coated with that glorious brown butter and marshmallow goodness.
Line your pan with parchment paper: If you want to avoid sticky clean-up later, line your pan with parchment paper. I just laid a huge piece of parchment paper over the top. Then, press your Rice Krispies mixture with marshmallows and browned butter into the parchment paper-lined pan. After they cool, they should come out easily.
Add Extra Goodies: Get creative with your treats! There are tons of Christmas dessert toppings available this time of year. I went with some cute Christmas sprinkles I found, some red and green sprinkles that I had in my pantry, and I picked some red and green M&Ms out of a bag of M&M’s. However, there are so many directions you can go with these Christmas rice krispie treats to make them fit the season and your style. You could drizzle them in red and green-colored chocolate, add chocolate chips or maybe even some nuts.
Now that you’re armed with these pro tips, let’s get to the star of the show: Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats!
Video Showing How to Make Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats:
How to Make Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients:
– 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
– 10 oz (1 package) of miniature marshmallows
– 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
– Optional add-ins: Christmas sprinkles, M&M’s, nuts, chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Brown the Butter:
– In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Make sure it’s a big saucepan, because you will have to stir in your marshmallows and Rice Krispies too!
– Stir continuously until the butter turns a beautiful golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. See notes above for instructions on browning butter and how to know when to stop.
2. Melt the Marshmallows:
– Add the miniature marshmallows to the brown butter and put the pan on low heat.
– Stir gently and continuously until the marshmallows are completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Be patient; this is where the magic happens!
3. Combine with Rice Krispies:
– Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour in the Rice Krispies cereal.
– Quickly stir until all the cereal is evenly coated with the marshmallow-butter mixture. This part requires some speed, so don’t dilly-dally!
4. Optional Add-Ins:
– If you want to take these treats to the next level, stir in your choice of chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or any other favorite add-ins. I used mini M&M’s!
5. Press into a Pan:
– Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
– Transfer the mixture to the pan and, using a wooden spoon or parchment paper, press it down firmly to ensure a compact, even layer.
6. Cool and Cut:
– Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Once set, cut them into squares or your preferred shape.
– I also melted some melting chocolate to drizzle on top of mine once it cooled.
7. Enjoy!
– Now, the best part: indulge in these delightful, nutty, and gooey Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats. Share them with friends and family, or keep them all to yourself (I won’t judge)!
Christmas Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- 10 oz mini marshmallows
- 1 cup butter 2 sticks
- 1 cup mini M&M's, chopped nuts, etc. Optional
Instructions
- Line a 13x9 pan with parchment paper.
- Slice butter into smaller pieces and place in a large saucepan over medium-low heat
- Keep stirring the butter until it is browned. It will have a nutty smell and be noticeably golden in color. See notes above for more specific instructions.
- Once the butter is browned, add mini marshmallows. Stir quickly until marshmallows are melted and form a smooth mixture with the browned butter.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat
- Quickly stir in Rice Krispie cereal until it forms a consistent mixture.
- Add in any mix-ins while the mixture is still warm.
- Spoon the Rice Krispie treat mixture into your prepared pan. Press the Rice Krispie treats into the pan firmly, so they take the shape of the pan. It helps if you press the top flat with another piece of parchment paper.
- Optional: Melt some melting chocolate (or regular chocolate with a bit of coconut oil) and drizzle on top.
- Make sure everything has cooled before slicing your brown butter rice krispie treats into squares.
