• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fueling a Southern Soul

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Desserts
  • Dinner
  • Drinks
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • pitcher of sweet tea with 2 glasses in the background
      Large Batch Southern Sweet Tea
    • a twice baked potato on a plate with a fork taking a bite out of it.
      Twice-Baked Potatoes with Cheddar and Bacon
    • smoked salmon deviled eggs on a platter with green glasses in the background.
      Fancy Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Dill
    • sausage gravy spooned over butter ilk biscuits with a fork eating some.
      Southern Sausage Gravy for Biscuits with Heavy Cream
    • a sweet biscuit on a plate topped with butter and drizzled with honey.
      Cast Iron Skillet Sweet Buttermilk Biscuits (tender!)
    • deviled eggs with bacon jam on top n a small platter.
      Sweet and Savory Deviled Eggs with Bacon Jam
    • Kentucky hot brown dip in a cast iron skillet
      Cast Iron Skillet Kentucky Hot Brown Dip
    • kentucky oak lily cocktail with blackberry and lemon peel garnish.
      Large Batch Kentucky Oaks Lily with Vodka
    • hot brown casserole in a baking dish
      Oven-Baked Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole with Mornay Sauce
    • a pitcher of mint juleps
      Large Batch Classic Kentucky Mint Julep with Bourbon
    • deviled eggs on a plate with BBQ sauce on top
      Deviled Eggs with Bourbon BBQ Sauce Drizzle
    • bacon jam in a bowl with crackers around it and a spoon inside.
      Bacon-Bourbon Jam for Burgers, Biscuits, and More
    Home » Desserts » Bars

    Published Sep 13, 2019 (Updated Apr 5, 2024) by Heather Bilyeu

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

    Leave a Review
    Leave a review
    This post may contain affiliate links
    Jump to Recipe

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats is a classic treat with a sophisticated upgrade! All the flavors you remember from growing up turned up a couple of notches with brown butter.

    Two words. Brown. Butter.

    That is it. I could be done right here and would have forever changed your baking game with those two words.

    marshmallows and rice krispies on a white table

    Friends if you have never experienced the gift of brown butter you need to stop what you are doing right now and go make these. I mean butter is delicious all on its own, we know that, but stick it in a skillet to slowly melt to the point it starts turning brown and you have discovered a whole new dimension of good.

    There is a depth of flavor that cannot be explained. Nutty, toasted, rich, aromatic-smell-up-your-whole-house kind of good. It may seem difficult or be intimidating to achieve, but with an extra 10ish minutes and some love, you will be blown away at the results.

    Tips for Making Brown Butter

    1. Add a stick (or two or three...however many you need) to a large wide skillet and place on the stove on medium heat. (side note - a light-colored pan works best for this so you can see the color change better, but I don't have one and can manage with a dark bottom pan just fine).
    2. Let the butter melt until it starts to bubble and foam. This will take 3-5 minutes to get to this point.
    3. You'll want to keep a close eye on it from now on. Stir occasionally so you can see the bottom of the pan and color change. The butter will start to turn an amber color. This is when you know you're close.
    4. After another 3-5 minutes you will begin to notice the foam on the top turning an amber color, brown bits on the bottom and a nutty heavenly aroma coming from the skillet. Once the butter has turned a caramel color it's time to remove from the heat and you're finished!
    brown butter melting in pot on the stove
    Butter Starting to Brown
    marshmallows in a pot with brown butter
    Adding in Marshmallows to Brown Butter
    brown butter rice krispies treats being stored in a pot
    Adding in Rice Krispies

    I have added brown butter to chocolate chip cookies (life-changing), pound cake (so good), and numerous other baked goods. It adds a richness that you can't quite put your finger on if you don't know what it is. Adding it to these Rice Krispie Treats was a pretty iconic idea if I do say so myself.

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats pressed in a pan on white table

    I always forget just how easy they are to make. They make a ton to feed a crowd and no one can say no to them.

    How to Make

    Once you have made your brown butter and removed it from the heat ... it's go time!

    Add in your marshmallows, salt, and vanilla.

    Stir.

    Rice Krispies.

    Stir.

    Press down in a pan.

    Cool.

    Cut and enjoy.

    cut brown butter rice krispies treats on a white table

    Super simple and super delicious. Elevating Rice Krispie Treats with Brown Butter may be the best thing you do this week! These are perfect to serve at any get together, fall party, Halloween, Christmas, Monday Night Bachelor parties. I mean....really, there isn't a bad occasion for them!

    brown butter rice krispies treats on a blue background sliced
    • No Chill Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Addicting Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Glaze
    • Triple Berry Brown Butter Crisp
    • Brown Butter Sweet Potato Casserole
    Print

    Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    cut brown butter rice krispies treats on a white table

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    No reviews

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 21 minutes
    • Yield: 16
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats is a classic treat with a sophisticated upgrade! All the flavors you remember from growing up turned up a couple notches with brown butter.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 Stick of Butter
    • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
    • 10 Ounce Bag of Mini Marshmallows
    • 6 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal


    Instructions

    1. In a large pot, add 1 stick of butter and melt on medium heat. Let melt until browned, stirring occasionally and watching carefully. Brown for 6-10 minutes or until it is a deep amber color and you can smell the toasty and nutty notes.
    2. Remove from heat and add marshmallows, salt, and vanilla stirring constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted.
    3. Add in Rice Krispie cereal and stir until everything is mixed thoroughly and no dry cereal is left.
    4. Press into a 9x13 pan lined with parchment paper (or any size pan you have, I used one that is around 7x10. The smaller the size the thicker and smaller the bars are).
    5. Let cool and set for about 30 minutes, or pop in the freezer for 5 minutes, then slice.
    6. Enjoy!

    Notes

    1. I cut 16 good sized bars out of my pan and could easily cut 32 for more bite sizes squares.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 6 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 square
    • Calories: 169
    • Sugar: 12.9 g
    • Sodium: 245.4 mg
    • Fat: 6.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 27 g
    • Fiber: 0.1 g
    • Protein: 0.8 g
    • Cholesterol: 15.3 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
    « Ricotta Fig and Prosciutto Pizza
    Sous Vide Flank Steak Salad »

    Filed Under: Bars, Recipe Video

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

    Thank you so much for making this recipe and taking time out of your day to leave a star rating and comment review. I do not take it for granted and I appreciate you being here and sharing your thoughts on the recipe with me!

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • stacked Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls with a bowl of pb balls and 2 glasses of milk
      Chewy Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls (no chocolate)
    • 3 ingredient pizza dough on a baking tray with flour and a rolling pin next to it.
      3 Ingredient Pizza Dough
    • protein french toast on a plate with strawberries and blueberries
      Cinnamon-Spiced French Toast with Whole Grain Bread 
    • a big bowl of mashed potatoes scooping out with a wooden spoon.
      Southern-Style Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream

    Spring Trending Recipes

    • Lemon and Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake on a cooling rack with plates and blueberries in the b background.
      Tender Lemon and Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
    • whipped feta dip with honey and pistachios on a purple table with lemons, crackers, cucumbers, and flowers next to the bowl.
      Dreamy Whipped Feta Dip with Honey and Pistachios
    • Caramelized Onion and Spinach Quiche

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Web Stories
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Fueling a Southern Soul