These Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispie Treats are so easy to make, extra gooey inside, and make the perfect grab 'n go snack. The warm, delicious flavor of this tasty treat is my definition of happiness. And the bite-sized bits of Golden Graham cereal give these rice krispies a sweet and special crunch.
The recipe for these amazing Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispie Treats is so easy, after you make it the first time you'll have it memorized. What's amazing about preparing this dessert is that it completely avoids the oven, and is done in practically no time!
Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispie Treats
What started out as my sister Stephanie's attempt to whip together a batch of rice krispie treats without pulling up a recipe turned into what I consider a "golden" opportunity. This specific recipe was birthed around the same time as my new little baby Oliver, so it holds a lot of sentimental value to me.
After I had Oliver, Stephanie wanted to make me a sweet treat to munch on and knows how much I love her rice krispies. This is where the happy little accident began. She was throwing ingredients into a pot and realized she had way too much marshmallow goo. She ran out of Rice Krispies cereal and tossed in a cup of Golden Grahams for good luck, and voila, the magic happened!
When she brought them to me she was apologizing and hoped that they would still taste good. I took one bite and said, “We have got to record and recreate this mistake”. The funniest thing is, that no meticulous tinkering had to be done to get this recipe to its final version!
I strongly recommend saving this recipe and dropping some rice krispies off to any friends who have recently had a new baby or are going through any major life event. It will definitely be a pick-me-up!
Classic Rice Krispie Treats
Rice krispies should aways be ooey, gooey, and have a phenomenal marshmallow pull. They absolutely have to be chewy and easy to pull apart. Getting the right flavor-to-chewiness ratio is key!
Growing up, in my family we have made rice krispie treats so many times and for so many different occasions. In short, they are our love language. We like to jazz up the recipe every once in a while but generally don't stray too far from the classic. The new take on this recipe is really special to me, and I'm hoping they become some of Oliver's favorite childhood treats, too!
Golden Grahams
Who doesn't love the taste of graham crackers? Better yet, in the form of miniature cereal squares. Combine that taste of golden honey with marshmallows for an irresistible pairing. Sometimes I like to just live my life and have these Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispies with my coffee in the morning.
It's up to you whether you want to leave the Golden Grahams as whole squares or crush them up to mix in smaller pieces with the rice krispies. If you want to get really creative, you can swap out Golden Grahams for any of your other favorite cereals, or even add in chocolate chips for a very s'mores-like taste!
Given how sweet rice krispies are in general, the browned butter and Golden Grahams really add a smooth finish. The touch of honey in the cereal really adds a nice twist and crunch to these sweet treats as well.
Ingredients
- Land O'Lakes Butter (salted)
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Golden Grahams cereal
- Jumbo marshmallows
- Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste (or Vanilla extract)
- Maldon sea salt flakes
- PAM cooking spray
- I couldn't find my exact casserole dish, but this one is similar! (click here)
Making the Rice Krispies
Start by picking out your favorite 9x9 pan or casserole dish, and grease it with PAM cooking spray or 1 tablespoon of melted butter. If using butter, spread it with a napkin or pastry brush to grease the dish.
Add the remaining butter from your stick (7 tablespoons) to a large saucepan, pot, or Dutch oven and brown the butter over medium heat. The butter will begin to bubble and become slightly foamy as it starts to brown. Pay careful attention to stop browning the butter once it becomes a golden shade and has a wonderful nutty smell because it can easily burn quickly.
Once the butter is browned, add in the vanilla, salt, and the bag of jumbo marshmallows into the pot and continuously stir until they are mostly melted but not quite completely to a sauce-like consistency. You will want some gooey lumps of marshmallow left for a chewy bite.
Mixing the Rice Krispies
Next, you'll want to remove your pot from the heat. Add in your cereal and any other mix-ins one cup at a time, and fold it into the marshmallow mixture. I used Rice Krispies (7 cups) & Golden Grahams (2 cups) cereal. If your mixture is still pretty gooey, add in an extra handful of Golden Grahams for good measure. Stir until well combined.
Pour the rice krispie mixture into your casserole dish, and pat it down into the pan. You can grease your fingers or a spatula with PAM spray to gently set an even layer of the mixture into a casserole dish. Let the rice krispie treats sit aside for at least one hour to cool. Then, cut the rice krispies into squares and serve!
Marshmallow Size for Rice Krispies
I've been asked if it matters what size marshmallow to use for these Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispies. I use jumbo marshmallows just because I like some big gooey pieces remaining in my squares, but it's perfectly fine to use regular or mini marshmallows too!
If using a smaller size marshmallow, just make sure your total amount equals 24oz like the jumbo bag. If you don't use enough marshmallows, your rice krispies may not stick together well.
How to Store Rice Krispies
I can almost guarantee these rice krispies won't last long, but if you decide to make them in advance, or save some for later, cover them tightly to store. The rice krispies can be stored in the refrigerator, but I personally recommend leaving them covered at room temperature. They are much less prone to hardening this way!
How to Soften Rice Krispies
Sometimes using too high of heat will cause your rice krispies to harden. If you do need to soften your rice krispies for any reason, you can put them in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds (do not overheat!). Let them sit for a few more seconds before eating.
I've also learned a tip that adding white sandwich bread into the container with the Rice Krispies will help them absorb moisture from the bread when covered and sealed. You might try this to extend their freshness!
Other Fun Fall Recipes to Try
- Caramel Apple Donut Cake Pops (CLICK HERE)
- Pecan Caramel Clusters (CLICK HERE)
- Pumpkin Roll Cake with Sweet Cream Cheese Filling (CLICK HERE)
*This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 1 stick Land O'Lakes Butter (salted)
- 7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 2 cup Golden Grahams cereal
- 1 bag jumbo marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon Madagasgar vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
- ½ teaspoon maldon sea salt flakes
- PAM cooking spray
Instructions
- Grease your casserole dish with PAM cooking spray.
- Over medium heat, brown the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven.
- Add the vanilla, salt, and bag of jumbo marshmallows into the browned butter and stir. Continue to stir until the marshmallows are almost completely melted, with a few lumps remaining.
- Remove the pot from heat; pour the cereal in one cup at a time and fold it into the melted marshmallow mixture. Add extra Rice Krispies and Golden Grahams until you reach your desired consistency.
- Transfer your mixture to a casserole dish.
- Grease your fingers or a spatula with PAM spray and gentely pat the mixture in to an even layer in the casserole dish.
- Let the treats set for at least 1 hour at room temperature, or until firm.
- Cut into squares and serve!
Peg J.
The best rice crispy treat I’ve ever had!!
Callie
Thank you Peggy 🙂
Celeste
I bought the jumbo sized cereal bags and have made these rice krispies at least three times since discovering this recipe. They are definitely a hit!
Callie
This made my day! I'm so happy you like them! ♥️