Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Crunchy, creamy, chocolatey and easy, Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (aka Scotcheroos) are a summer staple for picnics and BBQs.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, these treats were everywhere. Nary a BBQ, potluck or bake sale went by without the appearance of Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars, sometimes known as Scotcheroos.
And it’s not hard to see why. They are easy to make, vegan, gluten-free, no-bake and to top it all off, have a mere 6-ingredients. Yes, clearly a cookie before its time.
What are Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
The New York Times tells us that, “Originally printed on the Rice Krispies box in the 1960s, Scotcheroos are Rice Krispies treats minus the marshmallow but with gobs of peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch chips”. These “Scotcheroos” were also called Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats (or Bars) in some circles.
A cousin to the basic Rice Krispie Marshmallow treats, it was probably only a matter of time before the world decided to play with adding chocolate!
Now to complicate things more, there is also a hybrid treat with both marshmallows and chocolate. And Cornflake Cookies make with, you guessed it, cornflakes. But, well, not going down that rabbit hole today.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy, no-bake recipe. Just heat stovetop and mix! Yup, no preheating the oven on a hot summer day!
Fun to make with kids. This recipe is super easy and fun to make with your kids.
Perfect for any occasion. This recipe is an easy treat to make for any occasion from potlucks to parties. Or just for snacking at home.
What You’ll Need
- Crisp rice cereal. This provides the body and crunch of the cookies. I used the traditional Kellogs brand.
- Granulated sugar. Adds sweetness.
- Light corn syrup. Prevents sugar crystals from forming and prevents the rice krispie treats from becoming too hard.
- Peanut butter. Provides the delicious peanut butter flavor. You can use natural or not, creamy or crunchy.
- Chocolate chips. One of two big flavors in the topping, most people use semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Butterscotch chips. These provide the other flavor component in the topping.
Step by Step Directions
Measure cereal into a bowl and set aside. Spray 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Heat sugar and corn syrup in a Dutch oven, then mix in peanut butter.
Stir in cereal.
Pour into prepared pan.
Press in to pan.
Melt chips in short microwave bursts, stirring in between.
Spread on bars, then let harden.
Variations
Can I make a smaller batch?
As our household shrinks, I find myself wanting to make more foods in small batches. I recently bought a set of 6-inch square pans (with convenient lids even). This size (36 square inches) is about 1/3 of a 9 x 13 pan (117 square inches) so perfect for a recipe that will divide in thirds like this. The small batch will make nine 2 x 2 Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Squares.
Can I use more (or less) chips in the topping?
I used 1 ½ cups (each of chocolate and butterscotch) and it seemed like less than my mother used to use. I did a survey of online recipes and the chips generally varied from 1 cup to 1 ½ with one recipe saying “a 12 ounce bag”.
So I decided to do a little detective work. Online sources said that a 12 ounce bag of standard chips measured out at either 1 ½ or 2 cups. So I went to my kitchen, weighed out 12 ounces and it came to 2 cups, (poured right from the bag, no shaking down, no “contents may have settled” measuring).
So I am guessing that my mother used the full bag. That would have been 12 ounces then but now could be 10, 11 or 12 ounces–all more than 1 ½ cup.
Of course further complicating the matter is one person’s comment that 1 ½ cups seemed like a lot and they preferred 1.
So I guess the proper amount of topping is ultimately a matter of taste. I’m going with the 1 ½ cups in my recipe which seems most common. Adjust as you wish. Just be prepared to stretch more to cover the bars if you go with the 1 cup amount.
Tips & FAQs
Why did my bars get hard?
For a simple treat, it’s surprising this isn’t foolproof! But there are a few things that I know can cause your bars to get jaw-breaking hard. These include overcooking the sugar mixture, pressing too hard when you put them in the pan, and storing in the refrigerator.
Can I use a generic cereal?
During the great rice krispies shortage of late 2020, I bought a store brand since it was all I could find. They were flatter and less puffed and I decided to wait until I could get the real thing. Of course people make these treats with Special-K cereal too and like them just fine, so it may have worked out in the end. Personally I’m sticking with Kellog’s but you do you.
Is there an alternative to the corn syrup?
Growing up, Karo syrup was all the rage but some people try to avoid it today. I even have a friend who is allergic to corn so I look for other options a lot!
I haven’t tried any alternatives in this recipe, but the NY Times says that either honey or golden syrup will work in place of the corn syrup. I am pretty confident that honey will impact the flavor, so my money would be on the golden syrup (though sensitive tasters might notice a difference there too).
Golden syrup is what Brits use when Americans use corn syrup and they are supposed to be pretty interchangeable. Both are invert sugars which means they reduce crystallization in recipes. But Golden Syrup is made from sugar instead of corn.

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 6 cups crisp rice cereal
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 9 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups
- 1 ½ cups butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Measure cereal into bowl and set aside. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a Dutch oven, combine sugar and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat until first bubbles appear then remove from heat (overcooking can result in hard bars). Stir in peanut butter.
- Add cereal to sugar mixture and mix until cereal is evenly coated.
- Spread into prepared 9x13-inch pan and press in lightly (if you press hard, cookies will come out too hard).
- Prepare topping. In medium glass or ceramic bowl, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in microwave, heating in short bursts and stirring in between. When melted, spread over cereal mixture. Let set until topping has hardened.
- Cut into bars. Makes about 24 if cut into approximately 2 inch squares.
Nutrition
Wednesday #BBQWeek Recipes
Starters and Sides
- Cowboy Caviar from The Freshman Cook
- Garlic and Lime Grilled Corn from Jen Around the World
- Grilled Garlic Honey Boneless Wings from Blogghetti
- Marinated Green Beans from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Smoky Blackberry Grilled Fruit Salad from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Sweet and Smoky Jalapeno Poppers from A Little Fish in the Kitchen
- Watermelon Cucumber Salad from The Spiffy Cookie
Dinners
- Asian Ribs from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Blackberry Honey Grilled Salmon from Sweet Beginnings
- Grilled Buttermilk Chicken from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Grilled Chicken Caprese from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Grilled Tuna Steaks with Honey Vinaigrette from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Desserts
- No Churn Thai Tea Ice Cream from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats from Art of Natural Living
- Spicy Hummus Dip
- Baked Salmon in Foil (with Green Alternatives)
These have my name written all over them! I love peanut butter in krispie treats! I love peanut butter period. I am totally making these.
I know these as scotcheroos and they are a staple. My husband and kiddos love when I make these.
That term was completely new to me but I’d them with any name!
Such a nice treat, and best of all its quick and easy to prepare
What a great treat for BBQs!
I’ve never made these, but I’m going to soon! We all love peanut butter and chocolate, they will be gone in an instant
Haven’t made Rice Krispy treats in ages and we’re definitely going to love this version!
This is the first time every I’ve seen this recipe. I’m sure Hannah will love making these, and eating them.
My son would love these, and the flavors sound yummy! I am making these as soon as I can!
These are always such a popular treat! Can’t wait to make them.
What a fun take on krispy bars. You can’t beat chocolate and peanut butter.
Those look incredible! My grandkids would love these!
Have them help you make them–then they’ll really have fun!
I haven’t had a Rice Krispie treat in … well, it seems forever! Loved ’em when I was a kid. And they are perfect for so many people today who are vegan, GF, etc etc. Fun dish — thanks.
That’s how I was. I hadn’t had one in ages!