If you’ve seen any of our Portland archives (including our guide to the 40 best restaurants in PDX), then it’s no secret that we’re head over heels obsessed with Pizza Jerk. This Connecticut style pizzeria makes insanely delicious pizza, and everything from the crust to the sauce to the cheese and toppings is always a home run. But one of the unsung heroes at Pizza Jerk is the dessert. Yes! Dessert.
Allow us to introduce you to the Butterscotch Browned Butter & Sea Salt Rice Krispy Treat. Although this dessert is simple and nostalgic, it’s so darn delicious that memories of preserved and pre-packaged Rice Krispy Treats are very much a thing of the past. The browned butter brings out a nuttiness and almost caramel-like flavor that regular melted butter cannot. The subtle handful of butterscotch chips gives it flair and familiarity, and the Jacobsen salt is the cherry on the top. The original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of salt mixed in with the Rice Krispy treats, but we recommend adding additional sea salt to the top of your completed pan if you’re as excited about salt as we are.
Living in PDX or headed to Portland soon? Please stop by and support our friends at Pizza Jerk! They’re currently open at both their Northeast and Southeast locations for delivery and takeout. Favorite pies include the classic cheese pizza, pepperoni, and the rotating weekly specials! Big thanks to Chef Tommy Habetz for sharing his killer recipe.
SEE ALSO: 40 BEST PORTLAND RESTAURANTS
Pizza Jerk Butterscotch Browned Butter & Sea Salt Rice Krispy Treat Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
- 12 cups mini marshmallows (20 oz.)
- 10 cups rice krispy cereal (12 oz.)
- 1 teaspoon Jacobsen salt*
- 1/2 heaping cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Warm large sauce pan to medium heat and add butter to brown. Butter will foam and sizzle as brown specks appear on the bottom of the pan. When the aroma of the pan is nutty and the bottom of the pan is a toasty-brown color, add marrshmallows and turn off heat. Stir together until smooth.
- In a separate large mixing bowl (or extra large if you have it) combine cereal, salt, and butterscotch chips. Pour warm butter and marshmallow mixture into cereal bowl and mix together with spatula.
- Create a non-stick surface with a light coating of butter or with nonstick spray in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Press cereal and marshmallow mixture into dish with spatula until the top is a smooth, even layer. Top with additional Jacobsen salt. Cool completely before cutting into 12 squares. Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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ERICA
I didn’t think you could elevate RKTs much more than by adding brown butter; and then I made these. brown butter, butterscotch, flaky Jacobsen sea salt make these the BEST RKTs of your life. Everything an RKT should be, these are. We’ve made these so many times that my family has started keeping a stock of butterscotch chips on hand at all times.
Brooke Eliason
Thanks so much Erica! So happy to hear that your family loves these RKTs too!
Amanda
I’ll never go back to making regular rice krispie treats. So yummy! The sea salt makes it amazing!
Brooke Eliason
So happy you liked it Amanda! We agree- the sea salt is key!
Melissa
These are so good! I love rice crispy treats but truthfully didn’t think this recipe would be that good. But it is!! Just make it.. you won’t regret it
Brooke Eliason
Thank you so much Melissa! So happy to hear that you liked them.
Kristin
These are hands down the best rice krispy treats I have ever made and so simple! Crowd please for sure!
EmIly ellis
SO SO GOOD! I’m a huge Rice Krispie fan and these were everything I dreamed they’d be and more. I’m never making regular Rice Krispies again.
Katie
These are KILLER. Easily the best rice Krispy treat I’ve ever had! They’re sweet, salty, and almost caramel-y from the butterscotch—the flavor is complex, but the recipe is so simple. Trust me when I tell you that these will become a staple in your house!
Kaytee
I have never had a Rice Krispie treat like this. The butterscotch and the sea salt combo is unreal. Like can’t stop, won’t stop after the first bite. And the salt is what makes this SO YUMMY so use real authentic salt.
SaraH
These are the best Rice Krispies I’ve ever had. So easy to make and delicious. The browned butter is key.
Logan
Absolutely delicious! My entire family loved them and while I love classic Rice Krispie treats I always love the recipes that take it up a notch even more!
Amanda
I wish I was joking when I say I ate half the pan after making these RKTs. My husband went to go to his buddy’s house, and I insisted he take the other half to him. And I didn’t even get my hands on Jacobsen’s sea salt, just used regular ol’ McCormick sea salt. Imagine if I had had Jacobsens. Super bowl is this weekend. I can probably safely make these, and with the right salt since we will have a few people over. Or I might have to make 2 pans… 🤔 make these if you forgot what joy is like. Make these if you love delicious things. Make these if you like an easy button in the kitchen. Just make these.
Madi
These are the easiest, quickest & most delicious go-to dessert! The butterscotch just takes rkt to a whole new level!
Shay
For the record, rice crispy treats are not my jam. I don’t usually love them. However, and this is a big however, I LOVE these rice crispy treats. These are the grown-up version of rice crispy treats, past those awkward teenage years and absolutely delightful.
Hilary
My kids tell everyone that the best thing I make are these RKT! The browned butter really makes a difference and the combination of butterscotch and salt is perfect. What’s also great about this recipe is that it’s easy to make gluten free so I have a dessert to serve to my GF sister-in-law. We have made these at least once or twice a month for 6 months now!
Lauren
EVERY SINGLE PERSON I make this for asks me for the recipe after they try it. These are amazing.
Heather
The best rice krispy treat recipe. So addictive! Love the salty sweet combo.
Cat Smith
Literally everyone I have made these for says they are the best Rice Krispie treats they have ever had. Huge hit at work, with the family, and friends. And soooo easy!
Sarah
I seldom crave a treat that doesn’t involve chocolate, these are one of the exceptions! Perfect “adult” RKT, but the kids still love them too!
Abbey Bell
These Rice Krispy treats are incredible. I made them as part of my Christmas cookie tins to give to friends and family and everyone raved about them. Even people who don’t typically like rice krispy treats couldn’t get enough. I think they may have been may favorite of all my Christmas cookies, which is saying a lot. Make these ASAP! And don’t skimp on the salt or the butterscotch chips 🙂
Mckenna e
Mind blown by these, I never knew ricecrispies could taste so good! Such a fun twist that everyone is impressed by! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Kristen
These are the best rice Kristie treats you will ever make! The brown butter with the butterscotch are perfection! I love how thick they are!
Jeni Plummer
These have become a regular treat in our house! They’re incredibly delicious and I’ve converted so many people who were appalled at hearing of salt on a RKT. I make sure the chips are extra heaping and I add a little extra salt, too. If you can’t find the recommended brand, we use Maldon salt – it’s another great option. Thanks for sharing, Brooke!
Sam
These are the very most BEST rice crispy treats of all time! We make them all the time a family friend neighbor favorite!!
Emma
So delicious and so easy! I’m not even the biggest fan of butterscotch and I absolutely loved these. I’ve made them twice since and they’re always delicious. Definitely try it!
Brooke Dickert
These are LITERALLY the best Rice Krispie treats I have ever had. The browned butter + the butterscotch chips + the Jacobson sea salt is a killer combination. I can never eat any other RKT’s because these have set the bar so high. If you have not made/eaten these, you need to ASAP!!!
ApriL g
Seriously so delicious. It’s a grown up, sophisticated version of a childhood favorite! 😆
KristeN
BEST rice krispy treats ever!!! Thank you for the recipe!
Brooke
These are delicious! These are a family favorite! Do yourself a favor and go make these now!
Sarah
I have a deep love for Rice Krispie treats and have to try them anywhere I go. These are hands down the best I’ve ever had or made! I make them all the time and always get asked for the recipe and people rave over them! So simple but so good! The ingredients are pantry staples now!
Amy
I’ve made these several (dozen) times as each time they are a hit! It is such a. Easy way to dress up your Rice Krispie game with MINIMAL effort. I have not met a person who doesn’t fall in love with these! Plus they can be easily modified for all your gluten free friends and family! This is a go to recipe for me!
Asia
These are amazing. They are the best version of rice Krispy treats that exists. I’ve made these a handful of times now and they are foolproof. So delicious!
Brianna
These Rice Krispie treats are BOMB!!! Hard to go back to eating them any other way!! Such an easy dessert with a total wow factor!
Courtney
These definitely win for best Rice Krispie Treats EVER! I’ve made them multiple times and every time people ask for the recipe or ask me to make them again (which I will gladly do!) The flavor is so so good.
Allison B
I was pleasantly surprised by this combination! I’m not the biggest fan of cereal squares, but I literally could not stop eating these.
Danielle
These are INCREDIBLE!
They are the perfect combination of salty and sweet!
Just do it…make them.
Kallie
These are the perfect blend of salty and sweet- I only make regular ones “for the kids” – if I want them for me it’s these or nothing! My FAV!!! (I’ve even participated in a taste-off of several local favorites and none of them lived up to these)
Annilee Cook
These are hands down the best Rice Krispie treats of all time! So perfectly balanced!!
Mel
Absolutely the best rice Krispy recipe I’ve ever had…and quite possibly my favorite dessert! These are unreal amazing!
Emily
Very,very good! Need to make these again soon they were so delicious!
katy
I’m not a huge RKT person, but I had to give these a shot and was blown away. SO good – the browned butter, the salt, and just enough butterscotch is a perfect combo.
Becki
These dangerously good! Since making them months ago I can’t go back to making regular Rice Krispie treats. The sea salt adds a tiny kick and the butterscotch chips make them feel like an adult treat. Highly recommend!
Stacy richards
The BEST Rice Krispie treats. I’ll never make them any other way again!
Clara
We took these boating every weekend last summer. They were the perfect end to the day treat. So easy and so delicious!
Liza
These Rice Krispy treats were so delicious! It’s just the right amount of sweet and salty:) I love the added flavor of the butterscotch chips! Thank you for posting this recipe! Will definitely make over and over again!
Kara
Literally the best rice crispy you’ll ever eat, let alone make. These were so good I was hiding them from the rest of the family so that they didn’t eat them all and I could. I’m not a huge butterscotch fan so I substituted in peanut butter chips instead and they turned out great.
EmilY
THESE ARE THE BEST RICE KRISKY TREATS EVER!!!! Seriously didn’t think Rice Krispie treats could be so crave worthy… IN LOVE.
Kieren mccord
These are not only my favorite rice crispy recipe but also probably my current favorite treat. They are easy to make and very simple, but also somehow more sophisticated than normal crispies so I bring them to dinner parties and stuff (especially when I only have like 20 min to cook haha). I have singlehandedly eaten a whole pan of these in just 3 days. I crave them frequently.
Amber
I’ve made these several times since you posted them. Wow! They are amazing!!!
Brianna
These are perfect in every way! The gooey marshmallows and flavor profile is spot on. I will never make another rice krispy treat recipe ever again.