Crispy, crunchy, sweet and salty. Just when you thought you knew snacks, there’s this recipe for Cornflake Marshmallow Treats. A rival to the classic Rice Crispy Treat, this one has roasted and toasted elements of cornflakes paired with marshmallows and a healthy pinch of salt to make a sweet-salty combination that’s hard to stop at one square.

Everyone knows of Rice Crispy Treats, but the formation of cereal plus butter plus marshmallows isn’t restricted to one cereal. Cornflakes are an amazing substitute that maintains their texture and adds a complex roasted flavor you just won’t find with rice cereal. 

This step is optional, but it’ll add an extra element of flavor to your treats. After crushing up the cornflakes, bake them in the oven for several minutes until they start to smell fragrant. This step will coax out the roasted corn flavor from the cereal. With the cereal slightly roasted, the main elements or so-to-speak glue is made.

Butter is melted until brown and fragrant, and it is followed by a healthy pinch of salt and a bag of marshmallows. Any type of marshmallow will do, just make sure that it’s twelve ounces worth of marshmallows. 

Next, fold the crushed cornflake cereal into the pot. It’ll be hard at first, but after a few stirs the cereal will work itself into the butter-marshmallow mixture. 

Spray your rubber spatula with a bit of baking spray and use it to press the Corn Flake Marshmallow Treats into the prepared pan. If the rubber spatula isn’t sprayed, the mixture will stick to the spatula and not stay in the pan.

After a thirty-minute rest (which might take up to one hour depending on how warm and humid your kitchen is) they’re ready to slice and serve!

At first glance, your expectations are biased from the latter mentioned Rice Crispy Treats, but these Cornflake Marshmallow Treats are on a whole other level. The treats are not sickeningly sweet and have a wonderful balance of roasted salty and sweet elements.

Roasting the cornflakes while not necessary does enhance the cornflakes in a developed and complex way. Paired with the brown butter and salt, the marshmallow’s sweetness becomes a refreshing and delightful dessert. The bars are crunchy yet chewy, with the perfect amount of softness that gives it almost a nougaty quality. 

They’re great make-ahead treats and make for a great dessert or snack. For another even more complex flavor, you could add salted roasted nuts to add even more salty nutty flavors. 

Making these Cornflake Marshmallow Treats will only be the beginning, as they’ll be made many, many, many (did I say many?) times!