Easy Microwave Scotcheroos are a quick and delightful treat that captures the essence of the classic no-bake dessert in a fraction of the time. With a combination of peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate, they're both rich and satisfying.
Recipe: $7.33 | Per Serving: $0.61 | Servings: 12
These peanut butter butterscotch Rice Krispie treats are incredibly easy to make, and they're perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth cravings in a hurry.
One of the best features of microwave scotcheroos is their convenience. Unlike traditional recipes, which require stovetop cooking and some patience, these microwaveable versions come together in mere minutes, providing a shortcut without sacrificing the mouthwatering blend of flavors.
Rice Krispie scotcheroos are ideal for those moments when you're craving a sweet treat but don't have the time or desire to bake. The convenience and speed of this recipe make it a go-to choice for a quicker dessert fix.
Plus, the irresistible combination of peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate ensures that each bite of these microwave scotcheroos is a taste of deliciousness that's impossible to resist.
For more Krispy treats, check out my Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Rice Krispie Treat in a Mug, and Oreo Rice Krispie Treats.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- No marshmallows are needed. Unlike many other rice krispie treat recipes, we're making these peanut butter butterscotch rice krispie treats without marshmallows! The results are fabulous, soft, and irresistible.
- The microwave is quick and convenient! Cut down on time, energy, and dishes by simply using the microwave. No more waiting for sugar to boil over a hot stove. We love the microwave for everything from Lemon Mug Cake (With Lemon Curd!) to Microwave Yellow Squash.
- Perfect results every time. With this easy scotcheroo recipe, you can get a perfectly made batch of scotcheroo bars every time. The minimal effort you get to apply to making it is just an added bonus!
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Light Corn Syrup- This helps to prevent sugar crystals from forming in the mixture, which means your cereal treats will have the perfect consistency.
Creamy Peanut Butter- While you can use chunky peanut butter, creamy peanut butters like Jif or Skippy are what we like to use. Note that natural peanut butters will not work because the consistency is different.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips- We prefer the treats with semi-sweet chocolate chips, but milk chocolate chips are great too!
Butterscotch Chips- These yield the best flavor and add to the creamy consistency in the topping. Use the leftover butterscotch chips to make these Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
Corn Syrup. You can make these rice krispie scotcheroos without corn syrup! If you can't use corn syrup or don't want to, you can make your own DIY version by mixing together 1 cup of granulated sugar with ¼ cup of water in a small pot.
Mix together over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has thickened. Then allow to cool and use as directed. This is similar to our Microwave Simple Syrup, but it has a stronger sugar to water ratio to keep it thick.
📖 Variations
Looking to switch things up a bit? Here are some creative ideas to add a twist to your bars:
- Nutella Swirl: Substitute half of the peanut butter with Nutella hazelnut spread (½ cup each of Nutella and peanut butter). Be cautious with the sweetness if using a full cup of Nutella.
- Sea Salt Finish: Enhance the flavor with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the chocolate layer for a delightful sweet-salty contrast.
- Extra Peanut Butter: Craving more peanut butter goodness? Add up to an additional ½ cup for a softer texture and intensified peanut flavor.
- White Chocolate Magic: Swap out semi-sweet chocolate chips with white chocolate for a unique twist. Perfect for festive occasions, add colorful sprinkles for an extra pop!
- Cornflake Crunch: Replace crispy cereal with plain cornflakes (avoid frosted varieties) for a different texture. The result? Equally delicious bars with a crispy crunch.
🔪 Instructions for Microwave Scotcheroos
Step 1: Grease a 9x13 baking dish and then set it aside.
Step 2: In a large microwave safe bowl, combine your corn syrup and sugar (Image 1).
Step 3: Microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds to 1 minute 45 seconds depending on the strength of your microwave. Be careful not to let the mixture boil.
Step 4: Mix the sugar and corn syrup with a whisk until the bowl is no longer hot and the sugar looks dissolved (Image 2).
Step 5: Add in the peanut butter (Image 3).
Step 6: Stir together until blended (Image 4). Don't be afraid to get your hands in there and mix everything if it's too thick for your spoon to handle.
Step 7: Add in half of the cereal and mix it together (Image 5).
Step 8: Add in the rest and mix some more (Image 6).
Step 9: Once the mixture has been well blended, press it into the bottom of the prepared baking dish (Image 7).
Step 10: In a small microwave safe mixing bowl, add your chocolate chips and butterscotch chips (Image 8).
Step 11: Microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping midway to mix.
Step 12: Stir the chips again until smooth, adding another 30 seconds if needed (Image 9).
Step 13: Pour your smooth chocolate mixture over the top of the rice crispies and spread it out to cover the whole top (Images 10&11).
Step 14: Let cool and harden before cutting into squares and serving (Image 12).
Step 15: Cut and serve. Enjoy!
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Microwave Considerations- Microwaves vary in power, so keep an eye on the cooking time. While some microwaves finish faster, others may need more time. Adjust accordingly based on your microwave.
- Careful Melting Sugar- Avoid boiling the sugar mixture in the microwave. Boiling can make the bars too hard. Aim for complete sugar melting without boiling to maintain the desired texture.
- Preparation Tips- Grease the 9x13 baking dish well for easy bar removal later. Also, gather and measure all ingredients before starting to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Peanut Butter Selection- Choose creamy peanut butter over natural varieties for better results. Creamy works best, but chunky can also be used. Avoid natural peanut butter as it may have higher oil content, affecting the outcome.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
For short term storage, you can place these cooled and cut microwave scotcheroos bars in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature.
For longer storage, you can place them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend individually wrapping them in plastic wrap if you plan to snack on them one at a time. This is great for adding to lunchboxes!
💭 Scotcheroo FAQs
Scotcheroos are a Midwest thing. With scotcheroos being created in Iowa and having branched out over the years to neighboring states, not everyone has gotten to try (or hear about) this tasty bar dessert.
They're a mixture of butterscotch, peanut butter, crispy cereal, and chocolate. Usually, you see them made with a pot on the stove, but we made our recipe more modern to create easy microwave scotcheroos. No stove top needed.
You can easily have gluten free scotcheroos by simply opting for a gluten free cereal. Rice Krispies and a few other kinds of cereal have a certified gluten free label on them, making it easy to spot the safe options in the grocery store.
Make sure to check labels and avoid cross contamination if you're remaining gluten free as a result of an allergy.
Absolutely! You can freeze them prior to cutting so that the chocolate hardens faster, and you can freeze them after they've been cut for a longer storage solution.
I recommend cutting the microwave scotcheroos into desired portion sizes and then wrapping them in plastic wrap inside a Ziploc bag as this will help to keep them fresh as long as possible. It's also easier to grab one to toss in a lunchbox here and there.
If you overcook the sugar and corn syrup mixture, by bringing it to a boil, you will cause your scotcheroos to turn out hard. You want to avoid it if you're looking for tender crispy treats.
With this easy scotcheroos recipe, you are going to love making them in the microwave. This simple recipe is delicious and fun to make!
❤️ More Delicious Bars Recipes
If you tried these Easy Microwave Scotcheroos, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Microwave Scotcheroos
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl (microwave safe)
- Small Bowl (microwave safe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup light corn syrup ($1.28)
- 1 cup granulated sugar ($0.36)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter ($0.79)
- 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal ($0.96)
- 1 ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips ($1.97)
- 1 ½ cup butterscotch chips ($1.97)
Instructions
- Grease 9x13 baking dish. Set aside.
- In a large microwave safe bowl, combine corn syrup and sugar. Microwave on high 1 minute 30 seconds to 1 minute 45 seconds. Don't let the mixture boil. Whisk the mixture until the sugar has dissolved.
- Stir in the peanut butter until blended.
- Add in half of the cereal and mix it together, then add in the rest and mix some more.
- Press the well blended mix into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, add your chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds, stopping midway to stir.
- Stir the chips again until smooth, adding another 30 seconds if needed.
- Pour the smooth chocolate mix over cereal and spread to cover the entire top.
- Let cool and set before cutting and serving.
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