Brown Butter Rice Krispy Treats

I finally got a copy of the cookbook Flour, which I'd been eying for a few months. I wanted to dig right in, but, alas, my oven has been broken for the last week. It's been a sad week for me :(. Thankfully, the cookbook's author, Joanne Chang, was kind enough to include this no-bake recipe for Brown Butter Rice Krispy Treats.

It's probably been 20 years since the last time I've enjoyed a rice krispy treat. Making these was a trip down memory lane. This recipe stays fairly true to the beloved classic, while giving it a tad more sophistication. Browning the butter gives these treats a nutty, more complex taste. Yet, the large amount of marshmallow creates the ooey-gooey-ness nostalgia demands. My husband, who hates marshmallow, loved these. I think you'll love them, too.


BROWN BUTTER RICE KRISPY TREATS

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 vanilla bean, split lenghtwise
2 10 oz. bags marshmallows
1/2 tsp kosher salt
9 c. crispy rice cereal

1. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with aluminum foil.

2. In a large, heavy bottomed, stock pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into the butter. Once butter is melted, it will start to foam up and bubble. Once the bubbling subsides (which will take a few minutes) is when the butter will start to brown. You'll notice the butter go from yellow to a light tan to a golden brown. You should notice a nutty aroma.

3. Once your butter has browned, immediately add in the marshmallows and salt. Stir constantly until marshmallows are melted and combined with the browned butter. Remove from the heat and stir in the rice cereal. Stir until rice cereal is fully coated with marshmallow mix. Spoon into the prepared pan. Allow to rest at room temperature for about an hour before cutting into squares.

Source: Flour, by Joanne Chang with Christie Matheson, Chronicle Books, 2010, pg. 133.