Scotcharoos or Scotcheroos – no one quite knows how to spell these delicious gluten-free no bake treats, but they’re so delicious! I love that I can stir up a batch of these gluten-free Scotcharoos in minutes! They’re a family favorite treat!
What do you get when you combine the yummy flavors of peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch with gluten-free rice cereal? Scotcharoos! They’re sweet and chewy and so addictive!
I’ve been making these easy no-bake scotcharoo bars for years and they are one of my most-requested treats! These are like chocolate peanut butter butterscotch rice krispie treats! So unique and so good!Gluten-free scotcheroos couldn’t be easier to make, and are perfect to bring to potlucks and family gatherings! There are never any left to bring home!
Are Scotcharoos gluten-free?
No! They usually aren’t! They are usually made with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal which contains barley malt, which is a gluten ingredient. You must use an alternative rice cereal that is clearly labeled gluten-free and the label lists no wheat, barley or malt ingredients. (Sometimes the ingredients just say malt, which is always barley malt. Avoid!)
Notes on ingredients for these gluten-free Scotcharoos:
- Don’t use regular “Rice Krispies” or generic crispy rice cereal as those aren’t gluten-free due to the malt (barley) in them. You want to make sure to buy a gluten-free crispy rice cereal. I always buy Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice cereal which is easy for me to find locally or buy a 6 pk here on Amazon.. There are some other brands that make gluten-free rice cereals but I haven’t personally liked any of the ones I’ve found to try yet. Kellogg’s used to make a gluten-free Rice Krispies cereal too, but it was discontinued here in the US.
- Peanut Butter: I’ve had success with pretty much every kind of peanut butter in this – natural, regular, different brands. If you want to add some crunch, you can even use crunchy peanut butter.
- Butterscotch chips: Check and then double-check your butterscotch chips for gluten as well. Some popular brands like Nestle previously had barley added to their butterscotch chips (they recently changed this but there might still be bags of previous formula in circulation). The gluten-free butterscotch chips I use the most are Guittard butterscotch baking chips. Hershey’s butterscotch chips are also clearly labeled gluten-free.
- Chocolate Chips: You can use your favorite chocolate chips here. If you love milk chocolate, then use milk chocolate chips. If you love semi-sweet like I do, then use those. I used Guittard semisweet chocolate baking chips.
Yes, these bars are basically sugar + sugar + sugar + sugar + peanut butter + rice cereal. I know that. These aren’t a health food, they are a very yummy treat. I’m not advocating eating them for every meal, okay?!
How to make Scotcharoo bars:
- In a saucepan, heat the sugar and corn syrup until boiling.
- Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter.
- Stir in gluten-free rice crispy cereal.
- Spread the cereal mixture into pan.
- In a microwave safe bowl or I use a 2 cup glass measuring cup, heat the chocolate and butterscotch chips until melted, stopping and stirring every 30 seconds.
- Spread onto the bars:
You’ll want to set these aside to set. Once they’ve cooled, it is easy to slice and serve the bars without them being messy! Here’s a look at them while the topping is still warm and shiny. If I’m in a hurry, I will place these scotcheroo bars in the refrigerator for a few minutes – but don’t forget them in there or they’ll get overly hard!
I enjoy making these when I’m visiting/staying with others as well. With just 6 ingredients that I can find easily at many stores, I can mix these up very quickly at anyone’s house. With a clean saucepan and baking pan as well as new, unopened products, I can even make this safe gluten-free treat in a gluten-full kitchen!
People love when I make a pan of these to bring and share!
Interested in some other no-bake gluten-free desserts? Have you tried my no-bake gluten-free raspberry cream pie? Or for a no-bake allergy friendly treat, try my no-bake S’mores cookies. My friend Brianna has a recipe for gluten-free no bake peanut butter cookies that look yummy!
This scotcheroos recipe is one shared with me from my college roommate, Steph, the same one that blessed us all with her amazing chocolate fudge icing. Thanks Steph for sharing these recipes with me all those years ago!
Gluten-free Scotcharoos Recipe:
Easy, no bake gluten-free treats called Scotcharoos due to the butterscotch in them. I always bring home an empty pan when I bring these addictive treats to potlucks! Double check all ingredients for gluten. Crisp rice cereal commonly contains malt (barley) so you need to buy a brand specifically labeled gluten-free. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Gluten-free Scotcharoos
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
I recommend Guittard or Hershey's butterscotch chips. Some other brands contain malt (barley).Recommended Products
Pin one of these to your gluten-free desserts board on Pinterest:
or this one:
I hope you and your family enjoy these scotch a roos as much as we have!
Old pic:
If you make these and enjoy them, please come back and leave a 5 star rating on the recipe card!
Cheryl says
Scotcheroos were one of the first things I had to “adapt” when I had to go gluten free many years ago. I make them with Rice Chex – you have to try it! Everyone that has tried them with Rice Chex say they are the BEST! They are so gooey and yummy!
Erin says
mine are as hard as a rock. What did I do wrong? 🙁
Joyce gansen says
I also use Rice Chex but I used 5 cups not 6 and I stir 1 cup sugar plus 1 cup corn syrup together in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 2 minutes on high. Stir and add 1cup peanut butter and mix well. Then add your 5 cups rice chex and stir well again. I put my mixture and a sprayed 13×9 pan and then I frost with melted chips and I do that in the micro as well stirring after a min. and then in 30 second intervals. Happy snacking!
Sherry says
Do you have a substitute for sugar and corn syrup, like stevia and agave nectar?
JP says
I’ve been making this same recipe for years….. you don’t need the 1 cup of sugar. Make it with just corn syrup and omit all sugar and it comes out exactly the same. One of my favorite recipes! Delicious and super easy! Everyone loves them!
Pam says
So, do you add more of the corn syrup – or just leave the amounts the same without the sugar?
Sofia says
Ironically, Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice Cereal contains no malt, and is gluten-free.
Susan Hinderaker says
If the scotcheroos come out too hard, the secret is to not boil the mixture. Just heat until there are small bubbles around the outside of the pan. When you see the first bubble start to bubble up towards the center of the pan take the pan off the heat. Then they will be soft and easy to cut and eat.
Kate says
Has anyone tried these with any other nut butter? Not allergic but just don’t like peanut butter. Thanks!
Michelle Palin ~ My Gluten-free Kitchen says
I haven’t tried it, but almond butter usually swaps very well with peanut butter, so I would try that first!