Our Peanut Butter Scotchies also known as “Scotcheroos” are a crispy, chewy, no-bake treat that takes just minutes to make!
ABK’s Peanut Butter Scotchies are an improved version of the classic Rice Krispies Chocolate Scotcheroos recipe. We reduce the amount of Rice Krispies while adding more chocolate and butterscotch to the topping for a richer, peanut butter–chocolate indulgence!
This kid-approved classic is a fun treat to make with your family and is perfect as a quick dessert. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, you’ll be serving our Peanut Butter Scotchies in no time.
How do I keep Peanut Butter Scotchies Chewy?
Great question! Here are 4 simple tips to help you get that chewy texture every time:
- Cook on medium-low heat. Don’t boil! Heating ingredients too fast or too high will create a crispy coating. Remove from heat as soon as you see bubbles forming.
- Use the right amount of Rice Krispies. We’ve reduced the amount of Rice Krispies from 6 cups (in the original recipe) to 4 cups for a chewy bite. If you wan to make th recipe of farther, use 6 cups!
- Lightly press the coated Rice Krispies into the pan. Pressing too hard will compress the mixture into a peanut-buttery brick. If the mixture is too sticky, spray a spatula or your hands with a bit of cooking spray.
- Cool and store at room temperature. These bar cookies can be cooled on the countertop at room temperature, then stored in an airtight container – not in the fridge – for maximum chewiness.
A Tip for Measuring Sticky Ingredients
Before measuring sticky ingredients, such as peanut butter or corn syrup, lightly coat your measuring cup with cooking spray. The ingredients will slide out easily.
What ingredients do I need to make Scotcheroos?
The ingredient list is super simple to make our peanut butter scotchies!
Sugar
Corn syrup
Peanut butter
Rice Krispies
Butterscotch chips
Chocolate chips
What can I use instead of Butterscotch Chips?
If you don’t care for or don’t have butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips make a great substitute. They blend well with the chocolate chips and add more rich, nutty flavor.
We love to “dress up” these bar cookies for the holidays! With their warm autumn colors, Peanut Butter Scotchies make a perfect fall treat. Add your favorite sprinkles for a Halloween, Autumn, or Thanksgiving touch.
A Bountiful Kitchen is packed with irresistible bar cookie recipes. Here are a few you’ll want to try!
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, Easy Sheet Pan Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Pan Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies.
Originally published January 2012. Updated with new photos and content.
Peanut Butter Scotchies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
- 4 cups Rice Krispies
- 1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips or one 11-12 ounce package
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or one 11-12 ounce package
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch pan.
- In a large pot, over medium-low heat, combine sugar and corn syrup. Heat and stir until bubbles begin to form. Remove from heat.
- Add peanut butter and cereal. Stir until coated.
- Lightly press into a greased 9×13-inch pan. If the mixture is sticky, spray spatula with cooking spray.
- Microwave the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips in a medium bowl for about 1 minute. Stir, then continue to microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until chips are melted. This usually takes 2-3 minutes.
- Spread the melted chips on the cereal mixture in the pan. Let cool completely at room temperature and cut into bars.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
- The original recipe from Kellogg’s uses 6 cups of cereal. I prefer using 4.
- Kellogg’s uses only one cup each of the butterscotch and chocolate chips. I like to have a really thick layer of topping, so I use more chips.
- Don’t overcook the sugar and corn syrup mixture. Remove from heat when bubbles start to appear. If you over-boil, the bars will become hard and difficult to cut.
- Before measuring sticky ingredients, such as peanut butter or corn syrup, lightly coat your measuring cup with cooking spray. The ingredients will slide out easily.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and rate this recipe! I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
Julia
Where did you find those cute Halloween sprinkles? I love them!
Liz Cook
My go to treat for all ages and all occasions! A crowd pleaser!
Cherylann
Who knew that you could make these even better than the original recipe. You did. More peanut butter taste since it isn’t as spread out as there is less cereal and then add 50% more topping, amazing. Thank you for making this even more perfect!
MarGee Carlen
All time favorite treat!! Peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch… yes!!!
tresor
I like, very interesting
Lauren
Si: Three tips that will help get packages to Stephen. Send it only to the mission home in La Paz, not to his actual apartment/house etc. Also, if you put some Christian-looking stickers/photos of Mary and Jesus on the outside of the package, they are very much superstitious. And the last tip is to change his name to Spanish, so they don't think it's anything "different or special" . You know..? FYI: Estavan is Stephen in Spanish.
And those look absolutely delicious.
Si
Lar, I did try the first two tips you gave, but not the third! I will try this. You'll love this recipe, and so will Mr. E 🙂
Janet Murie
What handsome missionaries:) In our family we all LOVE Scotcheroos! I like your tips.I never thought of cutting back on the amount of RK's, but it makes total sense because at 6 cups the mixture is so stiff and sometimes way too hard.My great-auntie added 1 TBSP water to the boiled mixture which helped, but I like your tip of 4 cups…makes it so those other two cups can be added to another batch!lol
They are very addictively yummy!!I've also experimented with brown sugar Karo and dark Karo also peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch.Wonder where your packages are?
Si
Thank you Janet, I've never tried the water addition. I'll try it next time.
The packages…no idea where they are! Hopefully, they will surface sometime soon 🙂
Bonnie
So hard, Si. It really is the thought that counts. Time is flying (although I'm sure it is going by much slower for "the parents" than me). I remember your post a year ago about the scotchies. It's hard having your children grow up but bittersweet at the same time isn't it?
Si
yes it is Bonnie. No one ever told me my kids would eventually grow up and move out!! Oh, and it's amazing to me a year has gone by!