Brown Butter Apple Cider Crispy Rice Treats
Classic crispy rice treats upgraded with nutty brown butter, apple cider spice, gooey marshmallow pockets, cinnamon, vanilla, and flaky sea salt.
Ingredients
Main
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for greasing
- 1 10-ounce bag mini marshmallows
- 1 1/2 tablespoons powdered apple cider drink mix
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 cups crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup additional mini marshmallows
- Flaky sea salt for finishing
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the parchment and exposed sides of the pan.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring or swirling frequently, until the butter foams, the milk solids become golden brown, and it smells deeply nutty. Watch carefully near the end so the browned solids do not burn.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows and stir until just melted and smooth.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the powdered apple cider drink mix, cinnamon, vanilla, and kosher salt until evenly incorporated.
- Immediately fold in the crisp rice cereal until almost evenly coated.
- Fold in the additional 1 cup mini marshmallows with just a few turns of the spatula so some remain partially intact and create gooey marshmallow pockets.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Using lightly greased hands or parchment paper, gently press it into an even layer without compacting it firmly.
- Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt. Let cool for at least 1 hour before lifting from the pan and slicing into 12 pieces.
Notes
Use a powdered apple cider drink mix rather than liquid cider so the cereal stays crisp. Apple cider drink mixes vary in sweetness and concentration; 1 1/2 tablespoons provides a moderate apple-cider flavor, but a particularly mild mix can be increased slightly to taste. Do not overcook the marshmallows or firmly pack the mixture into the pan, both of which can produce hard treats. The additional marshmallows folded in at the end create softer, gooier pockets throughout.