Thursday, April 23, 2026

Gluten-Free Scotcharoos (Straightforward No-Bake Bars)

Gluten Free Scotcharoos characteristic a mouthwatering mixture of chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, and crispy rice cereal. These crowd-pleasing, no-bake bars are excellent for sharing!

plate of Gluten Free Scotcharoosplate of Gluten Free Scotcharoos

If you happen to’ve ever puzzled what it was wish to develop up within the Midwest within the 80s and 90s – “Scotcharoos” describe half of it.

These candy and chewy no-bake bars have been there for all of the necessary occasions, like faculty bake gross sales, church potlucks, picnics on the park, and sleepovers along with your greatest buddy.

They’re much like Rice Krispie Treats in that they each use crispy rice cereal as the bottom of the bar, however as an alternative of marshmallows, Scotcharoos characteristic the unbeatable mixture of peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate.

Whether or not you’re younger or outdated, from the Midwest or elsewhere, you’ll love these candy treats which are excellent for sharing – and now made gluten free!

Stack of Gluten Free ScotcharoosStack of Gluten Free Scotcharoos

What are Scotcharoos?

Scotcharoos are made by melting collectively sugar and lightweight corn syrup then stirring in creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract till easy. Gluten-free crispy rice cereal is added, then the combination is pressed right into a pan.

A skinny layer of melted chocolate and butterscotch chips is unfold on prime, then the bars are completed with a sprinkling of coarse sea salt, sliced, and served.

These infants are wealthy, satisfying, and a cinch to whip up for any event.

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Components Wanted

A very powerful factor to know earlier than making Gluten Free Scotcharoos is that Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free as a result of they comprise malt flavoring, which isn’t gluten free. That stated, search for…

  • Gluten free crispy rice cereal: I like One Diploma Brown Rice Crisps and Nature’s Path Crispy Rice Cereal. Make certain you’re utilizing CRISPY rice cereal, and never PUFFED rice cereal.
  • Peanut butter: I like Jif Naturals which, regardless of the identify, isn’t the drippy form of natural-style peanut butter.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Gentle corn syrup: makes the bars tender and chewy.
  • Vanilla extract: for an oomph of cozy taste.
  • Gluten free chocolate chips: I extremely suggest utilizing darkish chocolate chips since these bars are so candy, although semi-sweet will work too. I like Take pleasure in Life and Nestle model chocolate chips.
  • Gluten free butterscotch chips: my greatest buddy and I’d additionally usually make butterscotch pudding collectively rising up, so even the scent of those brings again a flood of reminiscences! Nestle makes an awesome gluten-free butterscotch chip.
  • Ending salt: a sprinkle of coarse floor ending salt on prime of the bars is very beneficial for balancing out the sweetness.
Gluten Free Scotcharoo cut in halfGluten Free Scotcharoo cut in half

Useful Ideas

If 11-year-old me could make Scotcharoos, anybody can. That stated, maintain the following tips in thoughts when whipping up a batch of your personal:

  1. Spray the pan: Use nonstick spray to coat the pan generously earlier than including the crispy rice cereal combination so the bars slide proper out.
  2. Straightforward measuring. Use an Modify-a-Cup measuring cup to make simple work of measuring each the peanut butter and lightweight corn syrup.
  3. Crispy not puffed. Make sure you’re utilizing CRISPY rice cereal as an alternative of PUFFED rice cereal for that coveted crispy texture.
  4. DON’T BOIL: be certain the sugar and corn syrup combination doesn’t come to a boil, in any other case the bars can prove exhausting as an alternative of soppy and chewy.

Alrighty, discover an occasion on the calendar and make some Scotcharoos to share!

Gluten Free Scotcharoos with flaky sea saltGluten Free Scotcharoos with flaky sea salt

Strive Gluten Free Dust Cake

Make Gluten Free Scotcharoos

Step 1: Soften gentle corn syrup and sugar.

To a big cooking pot, add gentle corn syrup and granulated sugar then flip the warmth to medium-low. Stir constantly with a spatula till the sugar dissolves and some bubbles start to rise to the floor from the underside of the pot.

Recipe Tip

DO NOT let the corn syrup + sugar combination boil, or the bars can prove exhausting as an alternative of soppy and chewy.

granulated sugar stirred with corn syrupgranulated sugar stirred with corn syrup

Step 2: Add the peanut butter.

Take away the pot from the warmth then stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract till easy.

melted peanut butter with corn syrupmelted peanut butter with corn syrup

Step 3: Add the crispy rice cereal.

Subsequent, add gluten-free crispy rice cereal then fold to mix and coat the cereal within the peanut butter combination.

Scoop right into a nonstick-sprayed 9×13″ pan then gently press into a good layer with a chunk of wax paper or the underside of a measuring cup sprayed with nonstick spray. Set the pan apart.

Recipe Tip

PRESS, don’t PACK the combination into the pan so the bars come out gentle and crispy, vs dense.

Gluten Free Scotcharoos in a panGluten Free Scotcharoos in a pan

Step 4: Add the chocolate-butterscotch topping.

To a medium-size glass bowl, add equal elements darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chipsand butterscotch chips. Microwave in 30-40 second increments, stirring between increments, till melted and easy.

chocolate chip and butterscotch chips in a bowlchocolate chip and butterscotch chips in a bowl

Drizzle the topping over the bars then use an offset spatula to unfold it into a good layer.

Gluten Free Scotcharoos in a panGluten Free Scotcharoos in a pan

Let the bars cool for 10-Quarter-hour then sprinkle the highest with ending salt to assist steadiness out the sweetness.

Let the Scotcharoos cool utterly then slice into 24 bars. They’re VERY candy, so that you solely want somewhat sq. to fulfill!

hand holding osmo finishing salthand holding osmo finishing salt

Whether or not you’ve acquired an upcoming gathering the place you’ll be able to share these nostalgic bars, or just desire a style of childhood right now, Scotcharoos by no means fail to hit the spot. Take pleasure in each chewy-gooey chew!

Gluten Free Scotcharoos bars set on their sidesGluten Free Scotcharoos bars set on their sides

Extra Straightforward Gluten Free Treats

  • 1-1/4 cups gentle corn syrup
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1-1/4 cups creamy peanut butter, not natural-style/drippy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 cups gluten free crispy rice cereal, see notes
  • 1 cup gluten free darkish or semi-sweet chocolate chips, Take pleasure in Life or Nestle beneficial
  • 1 cup gluten free butterscotch chips, Nestle beneficial
  • Flaky/coarse sea salt, for ending, optionally available
  • Spray a 9×13” baking pan very properly with nonstick spray then set it apart.

  • To a big pot, add the corn syrup and sugar. Flip the warmth to medium-low then cook dinner whereas stirring constantly till the sugar dissolves and the combination simply barely begins to simmer. When you see just a few bubbles, flip the warmth off then take away the pot from the warmth. DO NOT let the combination simmer or boil, or the Scotcharoos will prove exhausting.

  • Add the peanut butter and vanilla extract then stir till easy.

  • Add the crisped rice cereal then stir till it is evenly coated within the peanut butter combination. Scoop the combination into the ready baking pan then press, not packinto a good layer with a chunk of wax paper, or the underside of a big measuring cup unfold with nonstick spray. Set the pan apart.

  • To a medium-size glass bowl, add the chocolate and butterscotch chips then microwave in 30-40 second increments, stirring between increments, till easy and melted. Drizzle the combination excessive of the bars then use an offset spatula to unfold it into a good layer. Let the bars cool for 10 minutes then sprinkle coarse/ending sea salt on prime, if utilizing.

  • Cool the Scotcharoos utterly then slice into 24 bars and serve. Retailer the bars coated within the pan on the counter for as much as 5 days.

Energy: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 4g, Fats: 10g, Saturated Fats: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 4g, Ldl cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 141mg, Potassium: 133mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 473IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 2mg

Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full vitamin info disclaimer.

photo collage of Gluten Free Scotcharoosphoto collage of Gluten Free Scotcharoos

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin

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