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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.

Scotcharoo Recipe

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.

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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

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.

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!

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!

See all of our 2023 Freaky Friday Winter Recipes

Hosted by – An Affair from the Heart
  1. An Affair from the Heart – Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
  2. The Carefree Kitchen – Chicken Tikka Masala
  3. Feast + West – Fried Pickles
  4. The Fresh Cooky – Easy Elderflower French 75 Cocktail with St Germain
  5. Home Cooked Harvest – Roasted Cabbage Steaks
  6. House of Nash Eats – Bread Pudding
  7. Life, Love, and Good Food – Cheddar Bay Biscuits
  8. Soulfully Made – No Rise Pizza Dough Recipe
  9. The Speckled Palate – Easy Cheese Ball Recipe
  10. Take Two Tapas – Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
  11. The Wimpy Vegetarian – Creamy Spaghetti Squash Casserole
A scotcharoo sitting on it's side facing the camera in the middle of chocolate topped scotcharoos.

How to make Chewy Scotcharoos

To start, spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside. Then, melt some butter in a saucepan with corn syrup and sugar over medium-low heat and let the sugar dissolve. Bring the sugar mixture to a boil before adding in some peanut butter and marshmallows.

Mix in some Rice Krispie cereal, pour the hot mixture into the baking dish, and spread the cereal base out evenly. For the topping, melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in the microwave and pour the melted chocolate and butterscotch mixture onto the peanut butter Rice Krispie treats. Let it cool and then cut it into squares to enjoy this amazing treat!

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

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:

    1. Prepare a 9 by 13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
    2. 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.
    3. Remove from heat then add peanut butter and mini marshmallows and stir until combined and the marshmallows are almost melted.
    4. Add Rice Krispies and mix until throughly coated.
    5. 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. 
    6. Set aside or refrigerate until topping is ready.

For Scotcharoos Topping:

    1. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Cook for 1 minute. Stir, repeat as needed until chips are melted.
    2. 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.

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Sam Ellis

Hey there! I'm Sam and if there are two things I love most in this world, it's food and travel... and my dog, Tucker. I'm using my little corner of the internet to explore everything I love and I'd love for you to join me!

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Tuesday 16th of January 2024

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