Scotcharoo Recipe

This Scotcharoo recipe combines delicious no-bake peanut butter Rice Krispies treats with a butterscotch chocolate topping for a dessert you won’t be able to resist!

Three stacked scotcharoos on parchment paper in front of a white background.

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This Scotcharoo recipe combines delicious no-bake peanut butter Rice Krispies treats with a butterscotch chocolate topping for a dessert you won’t be able to resist!

If you’re looking for a dessert that’s easy and a crowd-pleaser, you have to try Scotcharoos! I was recently introduced to them and they’re quickly one of my favorite to bring to family gatherings or events.

They are chewy bars which are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. The rich peanut butter rice krispies are perfectly complemented by the smooth chocolate and butterscotch topping.

The best part? You don’t even need to turn on your oven! With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of this no bake dessert in no time.

RELATED RECIPES

If you love quick and easy desserts like these, don’t miss my Lemon Crinkle Cookies for a citrusy, chewy twist, or whip up a batch of Rolo Pretzel Turtles for a salty-sweet treat that comes together in minutes. And for a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing summer option, this Fruit Pizza is always a stunner!

Eight different bowls of varying sizes and shades of white and clear filled with the ingredients needed to make scotcharoos.

Scotcharoo Bars Recipe Ingredients

You’ll only need a few ingredients to make this scotcharoos recipe:

Salted butter
Corn syrup or Karo Syrup
Sugar
Mini Marshmallows
Creamy peanut butter
Rice Krispies Cereal
Semisweet Chocolate Chips
Butterscotch Chips

A dark grey pot that is filled with knobs of melting butter.

A large dark grey pot that's filled with bubbling melted corn syrup, butter, and sugar.

Step by Step Instructions

Check out the recipe card below for more in-depth instructions.

Prep the Pan – Spray a 9×13″ pan with nonstick spray.

Make the Syrup Base – In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in corn syrup and sugar until dissolved. Bring just to a boil and cook 2–3 minutes.

Add Peanut Butter & Marshmallows – Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and marshmallows until smooth and mostly melted.

A dark grey pot filled with melted butter, mini marshmallows, and peanut butter.

Melty mini marshmallows being stirred into the melted butter mixture with swirls of peanut butter.

Mix with Cereal – Fold in Rice Krispies until evenly coated. Press mixture firmly and evenly into prepared pan.

Melt the Topping – In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Spread evenly over the bars.

Set & Slice – Let bars cool until topping is set (about 20–30 minutes). Cut into 2–3″ squares and enjoy.

Everything you need for Scotcharoos!

Spatula

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Pot

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9×13″ Pyrex Casserole Dish

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Peanut butter rice krispies being stirred together in a large pot with a black silicone spoon.

A 9x13 clear Pyrex baking dish with handles filled with rice krispies treats.

Recipe Testing Notes and Tips

As a recipe developer with a degree in food science, I create approachable recipes you can trust. Here are a few takeaways:

Don’t overboil – Heating the syrup mixture too long makes the bars rock-hard. Pull it off the heat as soon as the sugar dissolves and bubbles begin.
Slice while slightly warm – Cutting before the topping is completely hardened makes cleaner bars without cracks.
Texture check – If you prefer extra chewy bars, refrigerate them briefly after setting. For softer bars, keep at room temperature.

Tip

When you spread the Rice Krispies mixture into the pan, press it in gently with a buttered spatula or parchment paper. This keeps the bars airy (not dense) and gives the chocolate-butterscotch topping a smooth surface to set on.

A small white bowl with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips mixed together with a silver spoon.

Melted chocolate being poured onto rice krispies treats leaving a melted pile in the middle.

Ingredient Substitution and Variations

Use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips if that’s what you have on hand already!
For added crunch, try using crunchy peanut butter, M&Ms, or adding in chocolate and butterscotch chips into the mixture right before you add it to the baking dish.
Not a fan of butterscotch? Double the chocolate chips amount!
Stir in some Nutella to the peanut butter mixture for an extra dose of chocolate and hazelnut.
Add a layer of caramel in between the cereal and chocolate layer for an extra layer of sweetness.
Try adding flaky salt on top for a perfect sweet and savory touch.
Replace the Rice Krispies for Corn Flakes to make Special K Bars or K-Bars which is also a different name you may have heard these called!
Add in a little vanilla extract to the corn syrup mixture to add more sweetness.

A scotcharoo sitting on it's side facing the camera in the middle of chocolate topped scotcharoos.

Recipe FAQs

What are scotcharoos?

Scotcharoos or scotcheroo bars are a sweet and chewy dessert that typically consists of Rice Krispies cereal, peanut butter, sugar, and corn syrup, all topped with a layer of chocolate and butterscotch chips. Depending on the preparation, they can sometimes have a more firm texture to them.

They’re a wildly popular treat especially for bake sales, potlucks, and around the holiday season! I was first introduced to them by a friend’s mom who surprised us with a cookie plate this past Christmas and haven’t stopped thinking about them!

Can scotcharoos be made ahead of time?

Yes, they can be made ahead of time and stored for later. Once the scotcharoos have been prepared and the topping has set, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

I personally love refrigerating these, though! They are the perfect chewy texture with the hardened chocolate topping that make it hard to stop at one.

You can also freeze them as a treat for later! I’d recommend cutting them into squares first, then layering them on parchment paper with a little room in between each. Once they’re frozen, you can put them in an airtight bag or container to easily grab them when your sweet tooth strikes!

Why did my Scotcharoos turn out hard?

The sugar mixture was likely cooked too long or at too high of a heat. Next time, remove it from the heat as soon as the sugar dissolves and the mixture just starts bubbling.

Do I have to use corn syrup?

Corn syrup helps bind the bars and keeps them chewy. Some recipes use honey as a substitute, but the flavor and texture will be slightly different.

Scotcharoos

Yield: 15 bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This Scotcharoo recipe combines delicious no-bake peanut butter Rice Krispies treats with a butterscotch chocolate topping for a dessert you won’t be able to resist!

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Rice Krispies

1 cup salted butter
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup sugar
½ bag Mini Marshmallows (or 4 cups mini marshmallows)
1 cup smooth peanut butter
5 cups Rice Krispies Cereal

Topping for Scotcharoo Bars

1 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Butterscotch Chips

Instructions

For Peanut Butter Rice Krispies:

Prepare a 9 by 13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium sauce pan or nonstick dutch oven, melt the butter on medium heat. Add the corn syrup and sugar and stir using a silicone or rubber spoon until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, stir occasionally, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from heat then add peanut butter and mini marshmallows and stir until combined and the marshmallows are almost melted.
Add Rice Krispies and mix until throughly coated.
Pour the mixture into the prepared 9 by 13" baking dish. Using the back of the mixing spoon, spread the mixture evenly into the baking dish.
Set aside or refrigerate until topping is ready.

For Scotcharoos Topping:

In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Cook for 1 minute. Stir, repeat as needed until chips are melted.
Pour onto the Rice Krispies and set aside or refrigerate until set. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Notes

Use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips if that's what you have on hand already!
For added crunch, try using crunchy peanut butter, or adding in chocolate and butterscotch chips into the mixture right before you add it to the baking dish.
Not a fan of butterscotch? Double the chocolate chips amount!
Try adding flaky salt on top for a perfect sweet and savory touch!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 478Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 254mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 2gSugar: 47gProtein: 5g

Nutrition provided is only an estimate.

Note from the Author

2025 Update: When I first shared this recipe back in 2023, it was for a blog hop with some blogging friends where we swapped recipes. The blog post has been updated to reflect new questions and recipe testing tips! Below is the original text from the blog hop.

I’m excited to join back up with my friends over at the Freaky Friday blog hop where we get to make recipes from another one of the blogger’s site. It’s all a surprise until Friday morning where everyone gets to see the fun recipes we’ve all made.

Michaela from An Affair from the Heart continues to do an amazing job coordinating the whole blog hop and has created such a fun experience for everyone involved. It’s definitely one of my favorite blogger events I’ve gotten to take part in!

This round I had Jill from The Carefree Kitchen! As a mom of 5 and having grown up on a farm and ranch in Idaho, she cooks a ton and has an appreciation of what it takes to grow vegetables and raise grass-fed beef. This combination has resulted in an incredible knowledge of cooking and baking as well as some drool-worthy recipes!

I’ve already bookmarked these Easy Crockpot Lasagna With Ravioli, Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs, and Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas for some delicious dinners. And hello, is there anything better than DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies?? Definitely go check out her site!