Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Rice Crispy Treats

My Poppie always said that a good home always has marshmallows stocked in the cupboards. Let's just say my new fascination with gourmet rice crispy treats are only helping my cramped apartment become a cozy little home. With my new found love for all things browned butter, this idea seemed like the perfect way to jazz up an old favorite.

Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Rice Crispy Treats [click to print]

Makes about 16 super thick squares or 3 dozen normal size

4 T. unsalted butter

1 T. vanilla bean paste (OR seeds of 1 vanilla bean)

1/4 tsp. salt

10 oz. (one bag) marshmallows

5-1/2 c. rice crispies (or other puffed rice cereal)

For really thick squares, line 6x6" pan with parchment paper. For normal treats, line 8x8" pan. Pour rice crispies in large mixing bowl and set aside. 

First things first. Brown the butter, and no skimping here! Margarine won't give these treats a caramely flavor so use real butter, please! So, heat butter in saucepan on low until it turns a light brown, caramel color. It will bubble a lot and be noisy for a bit before it reaches a deep caramel color. Immediately add marshmallows and stir until well combined. Add salt and vanilla. 

Pour marshmallow mixture over rice crispies and turn with rubber scraper until evenly coated. Press into prepared pan with greased fingers and allow to cool. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Source: Adapted from Zoe Bakes

Sweet 16: Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year! With celebrations typically lasting about two weeks, you still have plenty of time to browse through this week's blog roll and test out a new dessert!

Row 1: Thong Yuen, Almond Cookies, Sesame Seed Balls, Egg Tarts

Row 2: Pengat, Good Fortune Cupcakes  Agar-Agar, Mango Coconut Cupcakes

Row 3: Neen Go, Chocolate Kumquat Spring Rolls, Almond Orange Panna Cotta, Eight Treasure Rice

Row 4: Black Sesame Dessert Dumplings, Pineapple Tarts, Dessert Buns, Rice Cake Balls with Coconut Flakes

International Potlouck

Let's be honest. Family is important. Way important. In my church, families set aside one night each week as Family Home Evening. Pretty much what this means is the family gathers to do something that brings them closer together...it can be spiritual, recreational, mental, whatever. I'm really not sure who wouldn't wanna spend time with my family, given the chance, we are quite amazing.

But between moving out of your parents' home and starting your own family, there's that period of singleness. Welcome to my life! Since many of us single people obviously can't hang out with our "real" families each week, a bunch of singles in the area get together to build friendships and to maintain/develop that pattern of FHE.

Tonight, we had an International Potluck.

Ghanaian Peanut Butter Soup with Rice

Arroz con Leche

Plantains

Brazilian Cheese Rolls

Onigiri

Some kind of Latin America Layer Cake with Cream Cheese-ish Filling

Indian Cauliflower Curry

Kenyan Rice, Lentils and Something Else Good

Really I thought I had a lot more pictures than that, but I guess my hand got distracted by the fork that was constantly shoveling new and tasty things into my mouth. So much good food! If only I'd gotten my act together in time, I would have contributed a slightly sweet something with a deliciously high butter content. You know you wanna check back tomorrow for that!