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by Whitney //April 20, 2020 (updated June 9, 2022)
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This scotcharoos recipe is the best one out there, featuring a soft, peanut buttery Rice Krispies base topped with a smooth chocolate and butterscotch topping.
Butterscotch is such a fun flavor for any and all desserts. I use butterscotch chips in my 7-layer bars, my butterscotch chocolate chip cookies, and in my oatmeal butterscotch cookies! Plus, it’s the best in my butterscotch buttercream in my 7-layer bar cake! If you’ve never eaten a scotcharoo, you’re going to love these scotcharoos — and if you’re a butterscotch expert, then you can level up with my Scotcheroo Cake too!
What are Scotcharoo Bars?
They’re a no-bake cereal bar treat that replaces the marshmallows and butter for sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter. They’re topped with a melty combination of milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.
These bars are so gooooood! I literally have to slap wrists to keep people from eating them straight off the pan.
This is my go-to potluck dessert recipe, and let me tell ya… it’s always the first dessert gone.
Ingredients
You’ll need 6 ingredients to make this recipe.
- Corn syrup – this recipe uses corn syrup. There’s really no beating around the bush in this regard. The corn syrup adds sweetness and helps the Rice Krispie mixture to set and give that signature Scotcharoo flare.
- Granulated sugar
- Creamy peanut butter – I always use creamy, but if you’re wanting small peanut chunks in your treat you can substitute the creamy for a crunchy peanut butter.
- Rice Krispies
- Butterscotch chips
- Milk chocolate chips – I always use milk however, semi-sweet will work too.
How to make Scotcharoos
- Prep the pan. Spray a 13″x9″ pan with cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside while you prep the other ingredients.
- Measure out the Rice Krispies. In a large bowl add 5 cups of Rice Krispies cereal. Tip: you don’t want to add too much Rice Krispies otherwise the cereal base will be dry because the sauce:cereal ratio will be off. I always start with 5 cups and add more Rice Krispies after I’ve started stirring the sauce mixture into the cereal. This will make more sense as you continue reading.
- Make the “sauce.” In a medium saucepan over low to medium low heat, stir the corn syrup and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved. The mixture should be hot, however, you DO NOT want the mixture to come to a boil.Once the mixture is hot, remove it from the heat. You might see a few bubbles along the sides of the pan, if so, REMOVE from heat.If the mixture begins to boil (even just a little bit) remove from heat and continue with the recipe. (I figure if I repeat myself multiple times you’ll catch my drift. Did it work?) 😊
- Once the pan is off the heat, stir in the peanut butter.
- Pour the hot mixture over the rice krispies. Mix until combined. If it appears like the mixture needs more rice krispies, add more, a little at a time. Tip: work quickly because the mixture will set fast.
- Transfer the rice krispies to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Tip: you can place a sheet of wax paper over the mixture and use your hands to get the mixture into a nice flat layer. Be careful as it will be hot.
- Make the chocolate topping:in a medium bowl add the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. Heat in the microwave at half power in 20 second increments. Stir after each interval. Continue until fully melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate + butterscotch mixture over the scotcharoos. Using an offset spatula or rubber spatula, spread the chocolate until it covers the entire surface of the scotcharoos.
- Let set, slice and serve.
FAQ and Tips
What kind of chocolate chips are used to make the Scotcharoo topping? I use milk chocolate and butterscotch chips. If you don’t have milk chocolate you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips instead.
To make the topping extra smooth and shiny: You can add 1 tsp of coconut oil to the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips prior to melting in the microwave, this will give the topping a beautiful sheen and make the topping extra silky and smooth. Note: I did not add the coconut oil for the pictures you see… as you can tell the topping is a tad lumpy. Still tastes great! But if you’re a perfectionist, this is just one tip you can utilize if you’d like to.
How do you prevent the scotcharoos from being super hard? The key to making soft scotcharoos is to NOT let the sugar mixture boil. If you see any signs of boiling, immediately remove the mixture from the heat. In addition, don’t add too much Rice Krispies.
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PrintSave Review
4.94 from 75 votes
Scotcharoos
These soft scotcharoos are soft (not hard!) and topped with a smooth butterscotch chocolate topping.
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 5-5 1/2 cups Rice Krispies - See note #1
Topping
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
Measure out 5 cups of Rice krispies and place them in a large bowl. Set aside.See note #1
Spray a 13”x9” inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan over low to medium low heat, stir the karo syrup and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy. You DO NOT want the mixture to come to a boil.(If by chance, the mixture begins to boil, immediately remove from heat and continue with the recipe).
Once the mixture is hot…almostboiling, but not actually boiling (you might see a few bubbles come up along the sides of the pan… as soon as this happens), remove it from heat and stir in the peanut butter.
Pour the hot mixture over the rice krispies. Mix until combined. If it appears like the mixture needs more rice krispies, add more, a little at a time. Tip: work quickly because the mixture will set fast.
Transfer the rice krispies to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Tip: you can place a sheet of wax paper over the mixture and use your hands to get the mixture into a nice flat layer. Be careful as it will be hot.
Topping
In a medium bowl add the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. Heat in the microwave at half power in 20 second increments. Stir after each interval. Continue until fully melted.
Pour the melted chocolate + butterscotch mixture over the scotcharoos. Using an offset spatula or rubber spatula, spread the chocolate until it covers the entire surface of the scotcharoos.
Let set, and then cut into squares.Store in an airtight container for 5-7 days.
Video
Notes
I always start with 5 cups of Rice Krispies and then add a little more to the bowl after I’ve stirred in the peanut butter syrup sauce. You want to eyeball how much Rice Krispies you use. If you use too much, the Rice Krispies will be dry and not fully coated.
Nutrition
Calories: 451kcal (23%)Carbohydrates: 77g (26%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 15g (23%)Saturated Fat: 5g (25%)Cholesterol: 4mg (1%)Sodium: 250mg (10%)Potassium: 156mg (4%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 62g (69%)Vitamin A: 901IU (18%)Vitamin C: 8mg (10%)Calcium: 30mg (3%)Iron: 4mg (22%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating and review on the blog post letting me know how you liked this recipe! Take a picture and tag @saltandbaker on Instagram and Facebook so I can see what you’re making!
originally published April 20, 2020 — last updated June 9, 2022 // 51 Comments
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Allie Wolfe — Reply
SO GOOD!!!! So easy and the instructions are so clear. Love this recipe
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Salt & Baker — Reply
Glad you loved it!
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Brandi Newman — Reply
Can you replace the butterscotch with any other flavor? It tastes great but I would like to try another flavor
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Salt & Baker — Reply
Great question, Brandi! I haven’t tried it with another flavor, but I’m sure you could try swapping out the butterscotch for something else. Give it a try and let me know.
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Gwen Bents — Reply
They turned out great! A Family favorite! Love the directions you offered. Details like that are always helpful!
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Salt & Baker — Reply
Happy to hear that, Gwen! Glad the extra information is helpful. Thanks for coming back to leave a review.
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Carole —
Never made them before but will be using your recipe from now on!! THANK YOU!!
DELISH!!!! -
Salt & Baker —
Happy to hear this!
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LuAnn — Reply
Dumb question needs to asked. Can these be frozen? I made some with the intention of giving these to my grandson’s mom etc. But forgot to send it home with him. I can’t have any as I am diabetic. I’m trying to figure out how to save this batch. So there is no wasting. Help????
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Salt & Baker — Reply
Hi LuAnn! You can freeze them. Let them cool completely so the chocolate topping sets. Then cut them into squares and store in a freezer-safe container (airtight container is best). Then store in the freezer. Remove and let thaw completely and microwave for a few seconds to soften.
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Susie — Reply
Okay! Been making
These for years and this is the BEST recipe with instructions that make a difference. I always burn/boil my mix and they are hard. DUH! Thank you!.-
Salt & Baker — Reply
I’m so glad you love them, Susie! It’s a family favorite recipe!
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Catherine — Reply
Outstanding! These brought back so many memories. Loved these and my family so enjoyed them! I will be making these again! Thank you for sharing!
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Jess — Reply
We made them and loved them 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share and to have such a nice blog.
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Kyley — Reply
These were really good! Stayed soft after days.
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Nic — Reply
Made these tonight, and you aren’t kidding — this really is the BEST recipe! Thank you!
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Salt & Baker —
So glad you loved them! Thanks for the great review!
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Lucy J — Reply
We didn’t like these at all. Unfortunately we found them too sweet and didn’t care for the butterscotch. I will make again but not add the extra sugar to the corn syrup, no butterscotch and semisweet chocolate to try to cut the sweet some. I don’t know if they will still be scotcharoos but hopefully won’t end up in the trash this time.
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Jocob — Reply
More like Botcharoos, amirite! This recipe nails it, they’re supposed to be sweet and overbearing, just like your favorite aunt.
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51 Comments on “Scotcharoos”
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or opinions. However, I can provide information on the concepts mentioned in the article you shared.
Scotcharoos
Scotcharoos are a type of no-bake cereal bar treat. They are made by replacing marshmallows and butter with a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter. The mixture is then combined with Rice Krispies cereal and topped with a mixture of melted milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.
Butterscotch
Butterscotch is a flavor commonly used in desserts. It is made by combining brown sugar and butter, giving it a rich and sweet taste. Butterscotch chips are often used in baking to add a butterscotch flavor to cookies, bars, and other treats.
Rice Krispies
Rice Krispies are a type of crispy rice cereal made by Kellogg's. They are commonly used in recipes for treats like Rice Krispies treats and Scotcharoos. The cereal provides a crunchy texture and is mixed with other ingredients to create a base for the treats.
Corn Syrup
Corn syrup is a sweetener made from corn starch. It is commonly used in baking and cooking to add sweetness and moisture to recipes. In the Scotcharoos recipe, corn syrup is used to add sweetness and help the Rice Krispie mixture set.
Granulated Sugar
Granulated sugar, also known as white sugar, is a common sweetener used in baking and cooking. It is made from sugar cane or sugar beets and is often used to add sweetness to recipes.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a spread made from ground, roasted peanuts. It is commonly used in baking and cooking to add flavor and texture to recipes. In the Scotcharoos recipe, creamy peanut butter is used to provide a peanut buttery taste to the cereal bars.
Chocolate Chips
Chocolate chips are small pieces of chocolate that are often used in baking. They come in different varieties, such as milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate. In the Scotcharoos recipe, milk chocolate chips are melted and combined with butterscotch chips to create a smooth chocolate topping for the bars.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.