Sophisticated Rice Krispie Treats? Yes!

One of my favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen, posted a recipe for Browned Butter Rice Krispie treats a while back.  SK's blogger, Deb, is a great cook and baker, and she has been at this blogging thing for much, much longer than me. I actually have a bit of blog-envy when I read her posts, but I also come away with inspiration and appreciation of her passion for food, her writing skill and lightning-quick wit.

Deb's version of the popular Kellogg's snack treat takes a different twist.  She uses more butter, and browns it to a dark nuttiness.  Then she yings and yangs the whole thing by garnishing the old standard with sea salt!  Other than those two unexpected turns, it is still the reliable Rice Krispie Treat, but with a sophistication that an adult can truly appreciate.

SALTED BROWNED BUTTER RICE KRISPIE TREATS from Smitten Kitchen

Deb says:

"What’s different about these? Oh, just a bit more (coughdouble) butter which you toast until it’s brown and nutty and help along with some coarse salt, just minor things. But it changes everything...

Makes 16 2-inch squares or 32 1- x 2-inch small bars

4 ounces (1/4 pound or 1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan
1 10-ounce bag marshmallows
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (about half a 12-ounce box)

Butter (or coat with non-stick spray) an 8-inch square cake pan with 2-inch sides.

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Don’t take your eyes off the pot as while you may be impatient for it to start browning, the period between the time the butter begins to take on color and the point where it burns is often less than a minute.

As soon as the butter takes on a nutty color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows. The residual heat from the melted butter should be enough to melt them, but if it is not, turn it back on low until the marshmallows are smooth.

Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the salt and cereal together. Quickly spread into prepared pan. I liked to use a piece of waxed or parchment paper that I’ve sprayed with oil to press it firmly and evenly into the edges and corners, though a silicon spatula works almost as well.

Let cool, cut into squares and get ready to make new friends."

Recipe credit: http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/11/salted-brown-butter-crispy-treats/

Photo credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLBUAd8qQnw8PuEkK_5OZXOWK4dhd1ZD7TZ597202uLyjDDG-hdeQiqhyphenhyphen2PQSf6jg5xEXsogEzFU90hKc15e9RqZKBoiKMKsDTV7FI0YhqVgWaB4M3YkBpu10A4RXs_h7ckZRirf0cfU/s1600/ricekrispietreats2.jpg