Brown Butter Dulce de Leche Rice Krispie Treats

You guys remember the 80s/90s Rice Krispie Treat commercial — the mom splashing flour on her face so the family thinks they were a lot of work? I’m recreating that classic, but leveled up.

Recipe Inspiration

Prep: 10 minutes   Serves: 8   Pan: 9×9 inches

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons butter
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 cups mini marshmallows, divided (8 cups to melt, 2 cups to stir in)
• 6 cups cinnamon-sugar Rice Krispies cereal (see Laura’s Tips for a substitute)
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ can dulce de leche

Directions

1. Lightly grease a 9×9-inch pan, line it with a parchment or foil sling, and lightly grease the lining.
2. Melt the butter in a large, preferably light-colored pot over medium heat, stirring until it foams and develops little brown flecks. Remove it from the heat promptly so it doesn’t burn.
3. Stir in the sea salt and 8 cups of mini marshmallows until melted and smooth. If necessary, return the pot briefly to low heat to finish melting them.
4. Mix in the vanilla. Place the cereal in a large bowl, pour the melted marshmallow mixture over it, and stir to coat.
5. While the mixture is still warm, fold in the remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows.
6. Gently press half the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Spread the dulce de leche evenly over it.
7. Add the remaining cereal mixture and gently press into an even layer. Let cool and set at room temperature before cutting into squares.

Laura’s Tips

• If cinnamon-sugar Rice Krispies aren’t available, use regular Rice Krispies and mix in ¼–⅓ cup cinnamon sugar.
• Try a little olive oil underneath the parchment sling to help hold it in place.
• Brown butter can go from nutty to burnt quickly. Watch for those first brown flecks and take it off the heat.