Easy Scotcheroos Recipe
Growing up in the Midwest, I remember eating Scotcheroos at every potluck and bake sale I think I ever went to. Scotcheroos have been around since the 1960’s when a recipe for them was printed on the back of a cereal box. But they aren’t your ordinary Krispie treats! Scotcheroos are super popular in Iowa. Multiple Iowan friends mentioned them to me when I asked them what the most iconic Iowan dessert so I could include it in my American Eats series where I’m exploring the flavors of the good ol’ U.S.A. one state at a time. I was actually born just across the border in Nebraska and the two states (well, a lot of the Midwest actually) share many of the same favorite recipes and flavors, so Scotcheroos take me right back to my childhood! We just can’t get enough of dessert bars! Be sure to try some of our other favorites like Rocky Mountain Avalanche Bars, Carmelitas, S’mores Bars, and Cookie Butter Rice Krisipe Treats!
What is a Scotcheroo?
The base of a Scotcheroo is a chewy-crunchy-soft layer of crisp rice cereal folded into a sticky-sweet concoction of peanut butter, sugar, butter, and corn syrup. So even though they look and remind you of rice krispie treats, Scotcheroos are different because there are no marshmallows involved. Done right, and the bars stay soft and chewy. Then they are topped with melted butterscotch and chocolate chips for a wonderful and unique flavor combination that turns these from peanut butter chocolate bars into Scotcheroos. The chocolate-butterscotch layer firms back up after sitting a while and provides a great textural contrast to the bottom layer.
How to Make Scotcheroos
Are scotcheroos gluten free?
They can be made gluten free by choosing to use the gluten-free version of Rice Krispie cereal. But be warned that Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are not gluten-free, so you will have to read labels. If you’re looking to avoid gluten due to an allergy, then watch for “malt flavoring” on the ingredient list, which is the ingredient in rice krispies that contains gluten since it is derived from a barley grain. Also, be careful of cross-contamination, otherwise, none of these ingredients would normally contain gluten.
How long are scotcheroos good for?
If kept stored in an airtight container at room temperature, then you can expect your dessert bars to last up to about a week and still be great! Of course, this is assuming you can get them to last that long in the first place. They might be gone much sooner: they’re too irresistible.
Can scotcheroos be frozen?
Yes, they can be frozen! I recommend that if you plan on freezing them, to first cut them into serving sized pieces before freezing so that you can grab and go when you’re hungry or packing a lunch bag.
Why are my scotcheroos so hard?
Usually, the biggest reason why your scotcheroos could be hard is a direct result of overcooking the mixture. If you bring the pan to a boil, you could cause the sugar to crystalize and become harder than intended. Another reason is if you try to press them too hard into the pan and compact them. Mostly you just want to spread them out to the edges of the pan and that’s good enough.
More Midwest favorites you should try
Puppy Chow – everywhere else calls it Chex Mix Muddy Buddies, but in the Midwest we call it Puppy Chow. Blarney Stones (Peanut Butter Squares) – this is another Iowa classic that is rarely seen anywhere else. Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats – the extra effort of browning the butter makes next level rice krispie treats. Strawberry Rhubard Crumb Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies Easy Homemade Granola Chocolate Walnut Fudge
More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
