Healthy Scotcheroos Recipe
These Healthy Scotcheroos are a delicious no-bake treat combining creamy peanut butter, maple syrup, and crispy rice cereal with a rich chocolate and butterscotch topping. This recipe replaces corn syrup with natural sweeteners, making it a wholesome twist on a classic dessert loved by many.
- Author: Ella
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 25 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (345g) unsweetened peanut butter
- ½ cup (170g) pure maple syrup or honey
- ½ cup (14g, 8 Tbsp) unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)
- 4 cups (112g) crispy rice cereal
- ¼ tsp sea salt, to taste
Topping
- 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170g) butterscotch chips
- 2 Tbsp (29g) unsalted butter
- Prepare Pan: Line a 9” x 9” square pan with parchment paper or grease with cooking spray to ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Make Peanut Butter Mixture: In a large thick-bottomed pot, combine peanut butter, maple syrup, butter, and a pinch of sea salt. Heat on medium, stirring occasionally until smooth and melted together. Stir in vanilla extract if using.
- Add Cereal: Mix in the crispy rice cereal until fully coated and combined evenly with the peanut butter mixture.
- Press Mixture into Pan: Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and gently press it into an even layer to form the base layer of the bars.
- Melt Topping: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and butter. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring well between each, until melted and smooth, about 2 to 2.5 minutes total.
- Add Topping to Base: Pour the melted chocolate and butterscotch mixture evenly over the pressed peanut butter layer. Spread smoothly with a rubber spatula and optionally sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Set Bars: Place the pan in the freezer for 30 minutes or until the topping is completely set.
- Cut and Serve: Remove from freezer and allow to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Use the parchment paper to lift the entire block out, place on a cutting board, and cut into 25 squares or desired size. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute honey for maple syrup based on preference.
- Use coconut oil instead of butter for a dairy-free version.
- Optional vanilla extract adds a subtle depth of flavor but can be omitted.
- For firmer bars, keep refrigerated after cutting instead of room temperature.
- Sprinkling flaky sea salt on top enhances the flavor balance.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1 of 25)
- Calories: 241 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 83 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: no bake dessert, no bake peanut butter bars, no-bake dessert recipes, scotcheroos, healthy scotcheroos