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Home » Desserts

Scotcharoos

A closeup photo of Tiffany holding a bouquet.
By Tiffany
Modified: Oct 9, 2026 · Published: Mar 22, 2020

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This is a no-bake scotcharoo bar recipe with smooth peanut butter blended into Rice Krispies cereal topped with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips.

A stack of scotcharoos on a round white plate lined with parchment paper. Butterscotch and chocolate morsels are scattered around the plate and the white background.

Scotcheroos are a classic midwest treat that are served in most bakeries in my neck of the woods. They’re like a peanut butter rice krispie treat.

I’ll be honest, when I first tried a scotcharoo a few years ago, I had no idea there was peanut butter in it. I am not a huge peanut butter fan, but in these bars, it’s not as intense once it is mixed with other ingredients.

A white baking pan with squares of scotcharoos. A maroon spatula with a metal handle is picking up a square of scotcharoo.

I’ve seen scotcheroos recreated with a variety of cereals over the years – Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, and Chex. They can easily be changed up in this recipe, but I find Rice Krispies to be the best.

It’s like the perfect blend of sweetness with crunchiness together. The best part is there’s no baking necessary.

Ingredients for Scotcharoos

Ingredients for scotcharoos: a box of Rice Krispies, a bottle of Karo syrup, a ½ cup of white sugar, a JIF container of peanut butter with a red lid, a Tollhouse bag of milk chocolate chips, and a Tollhouse bag of butterscotch chips. All of the ingredients are sitting on a white counter with a white tile background.
  • Karo Lite Corn Syrup
  • White Granulated Sugar
  • Smooth Peanut Butter
  • Rice Krispies Cereal
  • Milk Chocolate Chips
  • Butterscotch Chips

How to Make Scotcharoos

Step 1: Prepare a 13″x9″ pan by lightly spraying nonstick spray. Melt sugar with corn syrup in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add peanut butter and blend well. Remove from heat.

An overhead view of a Hexclad saucepan with peanut butter mixture melted in it. A white spatula sits in the peanut butter mixture in the pan.
A large black bowl of rice krispies mixed with peanut butter mixture and a white and black handled spatula.

Step 2: In a large bowl, add Rice Krispies cereal and pour corn syrup mixture into the cereal as you mix. Pour cereal mixture into the 13″x9″ pan and spread evenly.

Step 3: Melt milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a small dish in the microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until melted through.

A white backdrop with a white and gray striped napkin next to a rectangle white baking dish filled with rice krispie treats next to a small clear bowl of melted butterscotch and chocolate chips with a metal spoon.
An overhead view of a white rectangle baking dish with scotcharoos. A handle is spreading the chocolate topping with a silver spoon.

Step 4: Pour over top of the cereal and spread evenly.

A white baking dish with sliced scotcharoo bars in it.

Step 5: Allow to fully cool and let the top set until it is no longer gooey to the touch, about 2 hours at room temperature or 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator, before cutting.

Cutting The Bars

A rectangle silver baking pan with 12 squares shown. Black text says 12 large squares.
A horizontal image of a rectangle silver baking dish with 24 squares shown in a grid on the pan. Black text says 24 small squares.

It’s easy to cut 12 large squares or 24 small squares for more to enjoy.

We actually found smaller bars to be the perfect bite for this sweet treat. After initially cutting large squares, we cut them all in half to get smaller ones. There’s a local restaurant that serves the larger squares and they sell quick.

Freezing

Scotcheroos freeze and thaw very well. Keep them stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

If you plan on stacking them in layers, be sure to place parchment paper between each layer to avoid sticking.

For thawing, allow them sit at room temperature until they are fully softened.

A side closeup view of scotcharoo bars with butterscotch and chocolate morsels next to the bars. They're all sitting on a white background.

Recommended Recipes

  • Bakery-Style Peanut Butter Drop Cookies
  • Butterscotch Blondies
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  • Chocolate Drop Cookies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop Cookies
  • Christmas Rice Krispies Treat Balls
  • High-Protein Fudgy Cottage Cheese Brownies
  • Oreo Fudge Squares
  • Pumpkin Bars
A stack of scotcharoos on a round white plate lined with parchment paper. Butterscotch and chocolate morsels are scattered around the plate and the white background.

Scotcheroos

Tiffany
This is a no-bake scotcharoo recipe with smooth peanut butter blended into Rice Krispies cereal topped with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 24 Bars
Calories 217 kcal

Equipment

  • Angled Icing Spatula
  • Rectangular Baking Dish, 13″ x 9″

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
  • 1 cup Lite Corn Syrup
  • 1 cup White Granulated Sugar
  • ¾ cup Smooth Peanut Butter
  • 1 ½ cups Milk Chocolate Chips
  • ½ cup Butterscotch Chips

Instructions
 

  • Prepare a 13"x9" pan by lightly spraying nonstick spray. Melt sugar with corn syrup in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, add peanut butter and blend well. Remove from heat.
  • In a large bowl, add Rice Krispies cereal and pour corn syrup mixture into the cereal as you mix. Pour cereal mixture into the 13"x9" pan and spread evenly.
  • Melt milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a small dish in the microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until melted through. Pour over top of the cereal and spread evenly. Allow to fully cool and let the top set until it is no longer gooey to the touch, about 2 hours, before cutting.
  • For cutting guidelines see above.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0.3mgSodium: 94mgPotassium: 87mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 469IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 2mg

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A closeup photo of Tiffany holding a bouquet.

Hello! I'm Tiffany.

I'm the recipe developer and food photographer behind Simply Happenings. I'm also a wife, mom to two adventurous little boys, registered nurse, and I live in the great Midwest. I like to feature high-protein recipes, one-pot meals, and delicious recipes you can cook with your favorite household appliances.

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