Brown Butter Cocoa Rice Crispie Treats with Sea Salt

I made a few batches of these and tried all sorts of things like cinnamon and cayenne and chocolate chips and I just kept craving a simpler version each time. So here is my favorite version just amplified a bit by browning the butter, adding some vanilla extract and a sprinkling of sea salt at the end. The brown butter gives it a toffee like taste, and the sea salt gives it a pop and makes it easier to, well, eat more lol. Enjoy!!!

Recipe by Tierney Larson

Ingredients:

4 tbl unsalted butter

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

a pinch of kosher salt

1 10oz bag of large marshmallows (I like the ones from Whole foods)

5 cups of cocoa rice crispy cereal

baking spray

Maldon flakey sea salt (or any type of flakey sea salt)

ok so…

Prepare a 9x7 baking dish (or any size really depends on how thick you want your crispie treats), by lining it with parchment, or spraying with non stick spray.

Have all your ingredients ready because once you notice the butter browning you’re going to want to add the marshmallows right away to avoid the butter burning.

In a large pot, heat the butter over medium heat until it just starts to brown, about 3 minutes. It will bubble and foam and then you’ll see little brown flecks start to appear, that’s when you add the marshmallows. Turn the heat to low and stir continuously until the marshmallows are almost fully melted, then add the vanilla and a pinch of kosher salt. Turn the heat off and add the rice cereal. Spray your spatula with a bit of cooking spray (optional but helpful) and stir all together, making sure to get the rice cereal evenly coated. Scrape the mixture into your prepared casserole dish and flatten it down with the greased spatula. Sprinkle with sea salt, and let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Enjoy!!!