There’s so much to love about this Scotcheroos recipe with soft and chewy rice krispies treats flavored with peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch. They’re as easy to make in just 15 minutes, and they are a delicious crowd pleaser!

Want more no-bake desserts? I love this No-Bake Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, Buckeyes, or Lemon Mousse!

A stack of peanut butter Scotcheroos, ready to eat!

I always have time to make Scotcheroos.

What I love most about Scotcheroos is they’re no-bake and as easy to make as traditional rice krispies treats, but they have a next-level vibe that’s more fun to bring to summer BBQ’s, potlucks and parties.

I’m convinced this is the best recipe for maximum soft and chewiness, plus amazing flavor.

How to make Scotcheroos:

Rice Krispies Layer: Add rice krispies cereal to an extra-large bowl. In a saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil, then immediately remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Pour over rice krispies cereal and stir evenly to coat. Press firmly into a parchment-lined 9x13inch pan.

Two images showing the sticky sugar mixture being stirred into rice krispies to make an easy scotcheroos recipe.

Chocolate Layer: Add chocolate chips and butterscotch chips to a microwave safe bowl and microwave on low power for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chips are melted and smooth. Spread over rice krispies and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Melted chocolate chips and butterscotch chips mixed together then spread on top of peanut butter rice krispies to make Rice Krispie Scotcheroos.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Scotcheroos taste best within the first day or two they are made. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

To Freeze: Cover well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely at room temperature before cutting and serving.

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Recipe

Scotcheroos rice krispies bars stacked on a plate.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 15 minutes
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Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • Grease a 9×13' inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
  • Rice Krispies Layer: Place cereal in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a low boil and then immediately remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Pour mixture over the cereal and stir to evenly coat. Press firmly into prepared pan.
  • Chocolate Layer: Add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on low power for about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Spread over rice krispies layer and allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Notes

Corn Syrup: Substitute honey if you’d like to make scotcheroos without corn syrup.
Chocolate Chips: High quality chocolate is essential or the chocolate wont melt well. Use Ghiradelli or Guittard, or use callaubut chocolate, or Bakers chocolate bars. 
To Make Ahead: Scotcheroos taste best within the first day or two they are made. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
To Freeze: Cover well and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely at room temperature before cutting and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 160mgPotassium: 161mgFiber: 1gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 4.5mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 3.2mg

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 I originally shared this recipe June 2013. Updated May 2020 and May 2024.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

4.91 from 60 votes (46 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. I am not a fan of PB and was thinking about cream cheese and/almond butter. Any thoughts about the cream cheese?? Thanks!!

  2. 4 stars
    Made these for the first time today. Yes, they are easy, but they are also quite messy and sticky to make and require multiple pans, bowls, etc, which means cleanup isn’t easy. That said, they turned out nicely, and were well received at a gathering following a funeral. I used only half the amount of butterscotch chips listed in the recipe, which did help with the sweetness, but there was still too much frosting, in my opinion.

  3. I have been making these for nearly 60 years but always with Special K cereal and we call them Special K bars. They are the favorite treat for our family over these many years! I prepare the sugar/corn syrup mixture in the microwave and then add the peanut butter and pour it over the cereal. We prefer less frosting and our recipe has only 1 cup of each kind of chip. Special K gives them extra crunch! If the flakes are too large,, we just crush them up a bit.

  4. 5 stars
    These are the best version I’ve ever had. I love the idea of using a bag of each, chocolate and butterscotch chips. Makes it easier and yummier! And no leftover chips to try and figure out what to do with. I made them for a Christmas eve soup supper/ buffet and they were a hit! The only thing that was gone at the ends of the night!

  5. I’ve made these for years. To make the recipe even easier, put the corn syrup/sugar mixture in a large Pyrex bowl and microwave just until it comes to a boil. Stir in the peanut butter, add the Rice Krispies, and press into the 9×13″ pan. Put the choc chips and butterscotch chips in a glass measuring cup and melt in the microwave at 50 per cent power until just about melted. Take out and stir to complete melting. This microwave method works perfectly and saves on dirty pans. Also, to make the recipe gluten-free, use organic gluten-free krispy cereal (from a store such as Whole Foods) and use Hershey’s butterscotch chips instead of Nestle.

    1. Thank you Pat for your adaption to this recipe! My husband is gluten free so will make these for him with your recommendations.

  6. 5 stars
    The combination of butterscotch and chocolate for the topping adds another layer of flavor to the recipe. Very easy to make and a sets up quickly. Recommend making the day before to be sure the chocolate sets up if providing for an event.

  7. 5 stars
    My mom has made these for years. They are soooooo yummy and easy to make. Perfect to bring to potluck with kids.

    1. We prefer to replace the butterscotch chops with more semi-sweet chocolate chips. That way they’re not overly sweet, and they’re so delicious! You can always use fewer chocolate chips if the chocolatey layer seems too thick or you don’t have much time for the chocolate to set. In a pinch you can refrigerate just until the chocolate sets, but then bring them back to room temperature or they’re way too hard and chewy.

  8. Have you made them with a replacement butter? I cannot have peanut butter where I work. I thought I may use sunflower butter, if I can find it .

  9. Hi, these look delicious! Is there any substitute (ie agave, honey, simple syrup, dates, etc) for the light corn syrup? Thanks!

    1. Hi Sabrina, I’m sorry, but in this specific recipe the cornstarch is essential as a thickening agent and the other sweeteners just wont work the same. You could try it, but it wouldn’t hold the same consistency.

  10. 5 stars
    Made these for an event for people of all ages, they were a big hit for everyone!
    Love delicious and easy recipes.

  11. 5 stars
    My family LOVES this recipe. It is so easy, impossible to mess up, and incredible quick to throw together. Thanks for the recipe!

  12. 5 stars
    Tyler gave me a bite of his today after church… OH MY GOODNESS!! these are divine! I will be making some for sure!