Brown Butter Pretzel Rice Krispies Treats
Upgrade classic Rice Krispies Treats with brown butter, crunchy pretzels, and puddles of dark chocolate.
Makes16 (2-inch) squares
Prep10 minutes
Cook5 minutes to 10 minutes
Classic Rice Krispies treats are one of the easiest desserts there is — which means we can’t help but add our own flair to the fun-sized snack. We’ve learned how to keep them gooey for days with sweetened condensed milk, and mastered the best way to give them a tropical twist. But these treats, made with brown butter, salty pretzels, and rich dark chocolate, are the most ingenious incarnation yet.
Upgrade the Classic Treat with 3 Simple Steps
Practically every bake sale, holiday party, and birthday bash features a platter of buttery, marshmallow-y crispy rice squares. Just because you’ve graduated from the playground circuit doesn’t mean you have to leave your favorite treats behind. Make these sweet treats a little more sophisticated with just three simple changes.
- Brown the butter. Instead of simply melting the butter, cook it longer until the liquid turns golden, the water simmers off, and the milk solids brown. Browning the butter gives the bars a rich and nutty flavor.
- Mix in salty crushed pretzels. Every sweet dessert needs a little salt. Stir crushed mini pretzels into the cereal mixture to add crunch, buttery flavor, and an extra touch of salt. Crush them into various shapes and sizes so that there’s some in every bite.
- Add dark chocolate. Nothing adds an element of sophisticated surprise like melty pockets of rich dark chocolate. Packaged chocolate chips or chunks will maintain their shape, while hand-chopped dark chocolate will melt more easily.
More variations you’ll love: 5 Easy Ways to Make Rice Krispies Treats Even Better
Brown Butter Pretzel Rice Krispies Treats
Upgrade classic Rice Krispies Treats with brown butter, crunchy pretzels, and puddles of dark chocolate.
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 5 minutes to 10 minutes
Makes 16 (2-inch) squares
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 cups
coarsely crushed mini pretzel twists
- 6 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 1 (10-ounce) package
mini marshmallows (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 4 cups
rice crisp cereal, such as Rice Krispies
- 1/2 cup
dark chocolate chunks or chips
Instructions
Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with a parchment paper sling, leaving several inches of overhang on 2 sides. Crush until you have 2 cups coarsely crushed mini pretzel twists.
Melt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Once the butter foams, watch it carefully until the milk solids brown and emit a nutty aroma. Add 1 (10-ounce) package mini marshmallows, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and stir until the marshmallows are completely melted. Turn off the heat.
Add the crushed pretzels, 4 cups rice crisp cereal, and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips, and gently fold until completely coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Let cool 1 hour before cutting into 16 squares.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days.