Brown Butter S’mores Rice Crispy Treat Bars
Next-Level Nostalgia: Browned Butter S'mores Rice Krispie Treats
Remember that pure, simple joy of sinking your teeth into a sticky, gooey Rice Krispie Treat? Now, imagine taking that childhood favorite, giving it a sophisticated, nutty makeover, and fusing it with the gooey and chocolatey magic of a s'more.
That, my friends, is the genesis of the Browned Butter S'mores Rice Krispie Treat. It's a simple dessert elevated into an autumnal masterpiece—perfect for cozy evenings, holiday gatherings, or just satisfying that deep craving for something utterly decadent.
I started with the classic recipe foundation, but made three crucial, flavor-bomb swaps that changed everything.
The Secret Weapon: Browned Butter
If you want to transform any standard baked good, the answer is almost always browned butter. The process is simple, but the payoff is huge. By slowly melting the butter until the milk solids toast and turn a deep amber color, you create a rich, nutty aroma and depth of flavor that a standard melt simply can't touch.
How to Do It:
Place your butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Melt the butter completely, then wait for it to foam.
Continue heating, stirring often, until the foam subsides and tiny brown bits form at the bottom of the pan (those are the toasted milk solids!).
Remove it immediately from the heat and pour it into your marshmallow mixture. That nutty essence is the foundational flavor of our s'mores treat.
Building the S'mores Dream
Once the marshmallows are melted into that glorious browned butter, it's time to build the iconic s'mores flavor profile. We traded plain crispy rice for a mix that delivers that perfect campfire taste:
Golden Graham Cereal: This is non-negotiable! Golden Grahams provide the perfect stand-in for the classic graham cracker—delivering that honey-sweet, crisp texture that defines the s'more experience.
Cocoa Puffs Cereal: To introduce the beloved chocolate element without just relying on chips, we stirred in Cocoa Puffs. They add a lighter, malty chocolate flavor and an extra textural dimension that keeps the bite interesting.
Chocolate Chips: Finally, a generous scattering of chocolate chips ensures melty pockets of richness throughout the bars, mimicking that oozing Hershey bar goodness you get by the fire.
The Result: An Unforgettable Treat
The final bars are a triumph of texture and flavor: rich, sweet, crunchy, and incredibly satisfying. The toasted nuttiness of the browned butter complements the sticky marshmallow, while the cereal blend and chocolate chips deliver all the nostalgia of a bonfire.
These Browned Butter S'mores Rice Krispie Treats are proof that sometimes, the easiest recipes, when given a clever upgrade, can yield the most spectacular results. They are the perfect, mess-free way to bring the spirit of s'mores indoors—no campfire required!
Brown Butter S’mores Rice Crispy Treat Bars
Makes 12
Ingredients
For the Brown Butter Marshmallow Base:
2 sticks butter (1 cup)
15 oz mini marshmallows
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
For the Add Ins:
5 cups rice krispie cereal
1 1/2 cups broken Golden Grahams cereal, plus extra for garnish
1 1/2 cups Coco Puffs cereal, plus extra for garnish
5 oz mini marshmallows, plus extra for garnish
1 cup chocolate chips, plus extra for garnish
Method
In a large dutch oven, heat two sticks of butter over medium high heat. Allow butter to start foaming and turning golden brown, whisking as it cooks to ensure even cooking. Keep an eye to not let it burn.
Turn heat to low and add in the salt and vanilla extract. Then add in the 15 oz mini marshmallows. Stir until all melted.
Then add in the Rice Krispie cereal, Golden Graham cereal, and Coco Puff cereal. Mix until well combined, then add in the 5 oz mini marshmallows and the chocolate chips. Dont overmix or else the chocolate will melt too much. Unless you like that, you can continue to mix!
Pour the rice crispy into a greased 9×13 dish and press it down into the pan, making sure that everything is level and even. Sprinkle with some more Gold Graham cereal, Coco Puff cereal, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Press down the toppings to make sure that everything sticks. Let the bars cool at room temperature before cutting.
Store at room temp in an airtight container.
