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Caramelized White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

When it comes to holiday foods, nostalgia reigns. Think Chex Mix, sugar cookies, and that baked clam dip your family has been serving on Christmas Eve for decades.

I don’t know where Rice Krispie Treats fall on this spectrum for you.

Personally, I will happily eat an entire pan any day of the year, but there’s something about these chewy marshmallow cereal pillows that makes me want to deck them out for Christmas.

caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treat squares with green and white sprinkles
Photo: Casey Barber

Caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie Treats are a holiday (or really, any day) upgrade for when you want to do something just an eensy, teensy, tiny bit more special than the usual sweet reward.

What is caramelized white chocolate?

As I explained in my post on how to caramelize white chocolate, it is chocolate that’s slowly oven-baked until it caramelizes.

Applying a low and slow heat to white chocolate until it turns golden gives it a taste similar to dulce de leche.

No longer the pristine snow-white (and somewhat bland) flavor of regular white chocolate, it’s now deeper and richer, adding a little frisson of caramel flavor to innocently sweet Rice Krispie Treats.

baking pan of caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treats with green and white sprinkles
Photo: Casey Barber

My recipe for caramelized white chocolate makes a whole pound at a time. If you’re making the effort to caramelize your chocolate, you might as well do a big batch!

Then, once it’s re-hardened, it’s easy to store and use in various recipes.

Caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie Treats are an ideal way to experience the subtle but satisfying way that the caramelization process adds a little something extra to a familiar dessert.

caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treat squares with green and white sprinkles
Photo: Casey Barber

Need another idea? How about Caramelized white chocolate pretzels are another great recipe for using more of it, especially for holiday parties.

Give your caramelized Rice Krispie Treats a little flair

Because of the golden brown color of the caramelized white chocolate, these Rice Krispie Treats will be a little darker in tone than those made with marshmallows alone.

That’s just a heads-up, and you can certainly enjoy them without any additional zhuzhing. However, I like to make these treats more festive by adding seasonal sprinkles.

Even for a dessert as iconic as a Rice Krispie Treat, sometimes it’s hard to stand out in a sea of colorful goodies on the buffet table, so why not add a little pop and pizzazz?

caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treat squares with green and white sprinkles
Photo: Casey Barber

Like the bard of our era, Taylor Swift, says: I can still make the whole plate—er, place—shimmer.

A quick storage note:

Chances are, this is not your first time making Rice Krispie Treats. (If it is, congratulations! You have entered into a very fulfilling lifelong relationship.)

So you likely know that these tasty squares tend to go from soft and chewy to rock-hard if not eaten quickly or stored correctly.

The addition of chocolate makes these Rice Krispie Treats a bit firmer than the regular garden variety right off the bat.

caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treat squares with green and white sprinkles

For maximum enjoyment, store the treats at room temperature in a well-sealed container. Don’t put them in the fridge!

And to stop them from going stale too quickly, use the old baker’s trick of adding a piece of bread to the storage container. (The bread absorbs moisture so the treats don’t have to! Science is magic!)

caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie treat squares with green and white sprinkles

Caramelized White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Yield: 1 9x13-inch pan (12 squares)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Caramelized white chocolate Rice Krispie Treats have a hint of rich salted caramel flavor in every bite. Make them for the holidays with seasonal sprinkles or serve them plain for any party or potluck.

Ingredients

  • baking spray
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 (10-ounce) bag (283 grams) marshmallows, regular or mini-sized
  • 8 ounces caramelized white chocolate (half a batch), chopped
  • 8 cups (215 grams) Rice Krispies
  • 6 tablespoons sprinkles, divided (optional)

Instructions

  1. Spritz a 9x13-inch casserole dish with baking spray.
  2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot (I like my 7 1/4-quart Le Creuset for the job) over medium-low heat.
  3. Add the marshmallows and caramelized white chocolate.
  4. Stir frequently until the marshmallows and chocolate are completely melted.
  5. Turn off the heat and stir in the Rice Krispies 2 to 3 cups at a time.
  6. Stir in 5 tablespoons of the sprinkles, if using.
  7. Scoop the mixture into the prepared pan and press gently with your palms to spread them out evenly.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon sprinkles over the treats, pressing them gently into the Rice Krispie treats.
  9. Let cool to room temperature, then use a metal bench scraper to cut the treats into 12 large squares.

Notes

Store the treats in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Add a piece of bread to keep them from going stale too quickly.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 64Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 0g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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