• Generously butter a 9"x13" baking pan. Set aside.
• Crush your freeze-dried strawberries in a sealed zippered bag with a rolling pin (note: alternatively you can pulse in a food processor or crush with a morter and pestel). Set aside.
• In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt your butter. Continue cooking butter until the mixture smells nutty and you see brown flecks start to form on the bottom of the pan. Stir constantly.
• Add marshmallows to the pan, reserving 2 cups for mixing in at the end. Melt over medium-low heat, mixing constantly until most of the marshmallows are melted. Once marshmallows are melted, remove from the heat.
• Add vanilla extract and salt, stir.
• (optional) Add crushed freeze-dried strawberries and ground flax seeds into the marshmallow mixture.
• Add puffed rice cereal and remaining marshmallows to the marshmallow mixture. Stir fairly quickly until all ingredients are evenly distributed into the melted marshmallows.
• Transfer the mixture to your greased baking pan. Using buttered hands or a piece of plastic wrap that has been buttered, press the Rice Krispie Treats into your prepared pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap and allow the The Best Rice Krispie Treats to set for 1-2 hours at room temperature, until the surface feels firm.
• Cut into 24 pieces and enjoy!

Other Optional Decorations

• Funfetti: Add your favourite, colourful sprinkles to your Rice Krispie Treats either during mixing, just after pressing into baking pan, or after coating in melted chocolate!
• Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle your melted chocolate over top of surface of Rice Krispie treats in baking pan. Let chocolate set, cut, and enjoy!
• Strawberry Burst: Add extra freeze-dried strawberries to the surface of your Rice Krispy Treats.
• Fluffer Nutter: Add 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter to the marshmallow mixture and top with crushed peanuts.