Scotcharoos

A scotcharoo bar with a bite taken from it

These Scotcharoos are the quintessential bar! Crispy cereal, peanut butter, and butterscotch are combined and topped with a thick chocolatey layer. A delicious sweet treat!

Everyone's Favorite Bar!

No minnesota picnic, potluck, or BBQ would be complete without Scotcheroos. The butterscotch kissed peanut butter bars are topped with a layer of chocolate and are infamous for being the first thing to go from the dessert table. These crispy treats are a summer must make. Read on to learn more about these scrumptious Scotcheroos!

Chocolate covered bars on a wood cutting board

What are Scotcharoos?

An excellent question, considering these tasty bars go by many names. First and foremost, Scotcheroos are traditionally made with crisped rice cereal, while others are made with corn flakes. The latter have been known as Special K Bars, since the cereal Special K would take place of the crisped rice. Regardless of what cereal is used, the result (in my opinion!) is the same: crunchy, peanut buttery, butterscotchy bliss. I happened to use both crisped rice and corn flakes in this recipe, but I’ll admit that this was out of convenience. I didn’t have the full amount of either cereal to make a full recipe! None the less, they taste incredible! 

Scotcharoo bars sliced into squares

How To Make Scotcharoos

There are so many recipes out there for these delectable bars:  I certainly am not claiming that this is a recipe I myself created! My husband surprised me out of the blue last year with Sarah Kieffer’s cookbook, 100 Cookies, which I had mentioned I wanted. If you’re not familiar with her, you should be! I’ve made her famous Pan Banging Cookies which are a must-make! She’s a certified cookie expert, and her recipe for Scotcheroos has become my go-to. 

As mentioned, these bars include crispy cereal that’s mixed with peanut butter and butterscotch chips. This mixture is pressed into a pan and topped with a chocolate layer which hardens upon refrigerating. The result is a pan full of bars that isn’t likely to exist beyond a reasonable amount of time (as in, an hour).

Sliced scotcharoos topped with chocolate

Summer Treat, On Repeat

Whether you’re cabin-bound, in charge of dessert for the BBQ, or simply craving something sweet, these Scotcheroos are the thing to make! Be sure to pay Saras Kieffer’s website, The Vanilla Bean Blog, a visit for more unbeatably delicious treats!

These Scotcharoos are the quintessential bar! Crispy cereal, peanut butter, and butterscotch are combined and topped with a thick chocolatey layer. A delicious sweet treat!

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Scotcharoos

These Scotcharoos are the quintessetial bar! Crispy cereal, peanut butter, and butterscotch are combined and topped with a thick chocolatey layer. A delicious sweet treat!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cooling time:2 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Bars, Butterscotch, Chocolate, Dessert, Peanut Butter, Scotcharoos

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups crisped rice cereal
  • 2 1/2 cups corn flakes
  • 3/4 cup corn syrup
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

  • Line an 8 inch pan with parchment paper, crating a "sling" so you're able to lift the bars from the pan. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Add cereals o a large bowl. In a medium sized saucepan combine corn syrup, brown sugar, and salt to a boil. Remove from the heat, and add peanut butter, butterscotch chips, butter, and vanilla, whisking until chips are completed melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour over cereal and toss carefully to combine.
  • Press mixture (using a plastic spatula) into the pan, and allow to cool for about 1 hour.
  • Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave in 15-second increments, stirring at least 10 seconds after each. Once mixture is completely smooth (err on string the mixture as opposed to microwaving it longer), pour over the cooled bars. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, and refrigerate until completely cooled and hardened.
  • Slice into 9-12 bars, and store in the refrigerator (they're best this way!).

Notes

Original recipe from Sarah Kieffer's cookbook, "100 Cookies". 
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