Chex peanut butter bars are a Midwest staple. Also known as scotcharoos, these bars are packed with peanut butter and made with crushed Rice Chex rather than crispy rice cereal making them gluten-free. Topped with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips makes them a family favorite!
These no bake peanut butter bars are the ultimate treat. The peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch combo will have everyone raving over your dessert. Feature on all your holiday dessert trays and tables this season!
Table of Contents
What are Scotcharoos?
A scotcharoo recipe traditionally features a butterscotch rice krispie treat topped with melted chocolate. The layered dessert is then sliced into bars to create a melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Our version takes all the traditional flavors and richness yet swaps in gluten-free ingredients. The simple replacement of corn or rice Chex for the crispy rice cereal allows us to turn this recipe celiac-safe.
We are stoked to be able to share yet another no-bake option that you can turn to when in a pinch! Of course, don’t forget our popular No Bake Cheesecake Bites, No-Bake Cookie Dough Bites and No Bake Peanut Butter Balls.
The next time you are craving peanut butter, make this your go-to no bake recipe or opt for any of our other delicious peanut butter desserts such as Gluten Free Peanut Butter Balls, Peanut Butter Pie (No Bake), Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies and Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup light Karo syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups Rice Chex, crushed
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
In a large saucepan over medium heat combine the sugar, Karo syrup, and peanut butter. Stir continually until the mixture just comes to a full boil.
Prep the pan and the Chex
Spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add Rice or Corn Chex to a large mixing bowl, set aside.
Combine and add the pan
Pour the peanut butter mixture over the Chex and blend well.
Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips
Add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips to a medium sized saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring continually until melted. Pour over the peanut butter bars.
Chill
Let the bars sit until the chocolate hardens. To speed up, place into the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chocolate scotcheroos as evening treat any night of the week or feature on the dessert table at your next occasion.
These dessert bars are also fantastic to gift to friends, family and teachers around the holidays.
Along with all your other favorite desserts, we find these bars especially delicious served with a cup of Hot Chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will want to remove the sugar mixture from the heat as soon as it starts to boil. If you boil too long, it will result in a hard bar once chilled.
Store these no bake peanut butter bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
We used semi-sweet chocolate combined with the butterscotch chips, which could be swapped with dark chocolate or white chocolate if preferred.
Our recipe requires corn syrup as it is an essential ingredient that helps the bars stick together and provide the rich flavor we all crave. If looking for a recipe without corn syrup, try our Gluten Free Rice Krispy Treats, Peanut Butter Fudge or Marshmallow Cream Fudge.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- As soon as you see bubbles in the middle of the sugar mixture, ask a helper to remove the pot from the heat.
- You can use 6 cups of Rice Chex or Corn Chex or a combination (3 cups rice and 3 cups corn Chex) in this recipe.
- Once the chocolate mixture is poured into the dish, use the back of a spoon or a spatula to evenly spread over the peanut butter bars.
- For an extra crunch, top the bars with chopped peanuts or mini chocolate chips before the chocolate layer hardens.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
- Caramel Apple Slices
- Cherry Cheesecake Dip
- Gluten Free Apple Cobbler
- Dairy Free Rice Pudding
- Dairy Free Brownies
- Healthy Frozen Strawberry Dessert
- Gluten Free Edible Cookie Dough
- Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Chex Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
- large sauce pan
- medium-sized sauce pan
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup light Karo syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups Rice or Corn Chex, crushed
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips ✅
- 1 cup butterscotch chips ✅
Instructions
- ⭐️Boil the sugar mixture. In a large saucepan over medium heat combine the sugar, Karo syrup, and peanut butter. Stir continually until the mixture just comes to a full boil.1.5 cup peanut butter, 1 cup light Karo syrup, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Prep the pan and the Chex. Spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add Rice Chex to a large mixing bowl, set aside.6 cups Rice or Corn Chex, crushed
- ⭐️Combine and add to the pan. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the Chex and blend well.
- ⭐️Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Add the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips to a medium sized saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring continually until melted. Pour over the peanut butter bars.1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, 1 cup butterscotch chips
- Chill. Let the bars sit until the chocolate hardens. To speed up, place into the refrigerator.
Notes
Tips
- Store in the fridge up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Add an extra crunch by topping with chopped peanuts or mini chocolate chips before the chocolate layer hardens.
- Prevent the sugar mixture from cooking too longer by removing from the heat as soon as it starts to boil.
- Use Rice Chex, Corn Chex or a combination.
Nutrition
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