Healthier Scotcheroos are a delicious take on your childhood favorite! By incorporating natural nut butters, using whole grain cereal, and opting for a natural sweetener like honey, you can create a version of scotcheroos that offers a balance of protein and fiber in a satisfying treat!
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Healthier Scotcheroos
Scotcheroos are a definite favorite in our house, and for a good reason. The combination of crunchy rice crisps with peanut butter and corn syrup to sweeten things up, along with a decadent chocolate layer on top is just irresistible.
So I set out to make a healthier scotcheroos version that are just as good but can be enjoyed with a little bit less guilt! The best part is that it only takes a few simple swaps.
By using a brown rice crispy cereal and a natural sweetener like honey, you will have a treat that contains more fiber and less sugar! I wouldn’t go so far as to say these are healthy, but they are definitely healthier than a classic scotcheroo!
Let’s dive in to making this delicious no-bake healthier scotcheroos recipe!
Ingredients Needed
- Brown or White Rice Crisps: For truly healthier scotcheroos, it would be best to use brown rice crisps instead of classic Rice Krispies. Brown rice crisps are generally organic, have less sugar, and are not as refined as white rice crisps.
- Honey: Honey is a natural sweetener and the texture helps these scotcheroos stick together!
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter gives these that classic scotcheroos taste! To reduce the sugar in these bars, use a natural peanut butter without added sugars!
- Salt: A little bit of salt helps balance out all of the flavors!
- Coconut Oil: Coconut oil melts along with the chocolate and will create a creamy soft texture of chocolate!
- Butterscotch Chips & Dark Chocolate Chips: Both chocolate chips flavors are melted together to create the chocolate layer on the top! I like to add the butterscotch chips for extra flavor, even though they aren’t necessarily healthy.
How to Make Healthy Scotcheroos
- Combine Base Mixture: Combine rice crisps, honey, peanut butter and salt in a large bowl. Mix to combine until all of the rice crisps are coated in peanut butter and honey.
- Prepare Pan: Layer a 9 x 9 baking pan with parchment paper. (This makes it mush easier to remove these bars from the pan). Grease the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer Rice Mixture: Spread the peanut butter mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the mixture into a thin layer and press down.
- Melt Chocolate: To a small bowl, add the butterscotch chips and dark chocolate chips and coconut oil.
- Microwave: Microwave in 30 second intervals until fully melted.
- Pour Chocolate on Rice Mixture: Pour the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter rice layer. Using an offset spatula or spoon, spread the chocolate into a thin layer making sure all of the rice is covered.
- Freeze: Place in the freezer for 2 hours to set. To remove the bars, lift the parchment paper up then slice the bars into 9 squares (you could do smaller if you prefer).
- Serve: Serve immediately or store them in the fridge (for up to 5 days) or in the freezer (for up to 3 months).
Tips for Success
- Top them off! Before the chocolate is set, top the chocolate layer off with flaky sea salt or some sprinkles for a festive treat!
- Like them sweeter? If you like your scotcheroos sweeter, you can use milk chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate chips!
- For clean, even cut bars, use a sharp knife and wash your knife in between cuts! Freezing these bars for two hours makes them so much easier to cut!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called scotcheroos?
Scotcheroos got their name from an ingredient that you will find in every scotcheroos recipe, butterscotch chips!
Can I make gluten-free scotcheroos?
Definitely! To make gluten-free scotcheroos, you can use certified gluten-free rice crisps! Even though all rice crisp cereals are made from rice, not all of them are gluten-free, so take a look at the ingredients or look for gluten-free on the box!
How should I store these scotcheroo bars?
Store any leftover scotcheroos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or, store them in the freezer for up to 3 months! You may want to bring the bars to room temperature before digging in so that they aren’t too hard!
More Easy Dessert Recipe to Try
- No Bake Chocolate Cookies
- Easy Oreo Truffles
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Peanut Butter Buckeyes
- Peanut Butter Oat Cups
Healthier Scotcheroos
Ingredients
- 3 cups brown rice crisps or white rice crisp cereal
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup butterscotch
- 2/3 cup dark chocolate
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Combine rice crisps, honey, peanut butter and salt in a large bowl. Mix to combine or until all of the rice crisps are coated in peanut butter and honey.
- Layer a 9 x 9 baking pan with parchment paper. (This makes it so much easier to remove these bars from the pan)Grease the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the peanut butter rice mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan.Use a spoon or spatula to spread the mixture into a thin layer and press down.
- To a small bowl add the butterscotch chips and dark chocolate chips and coconut oil.Microwave in 30 second intervals until fully melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter rice layer.Using an offset spatula or a spoon spread the chocolate into a thin layer making sure all of the rice is covered.
- Place in the freezer for 2 hours to set.To remove the bars lift the parchment paper up then slice the bars into 9 squares (you could do smaller if you prefer!)Serve immediately or store them in the fridge (for up to 5 days) or in the freezer (for up to 3 months).
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
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Cher
Hi Kelley! How much coconut oil (or butter)? A tablespoon or so?
Thanks!
Kelley Simmons
So sorry I forgot to add that in! Yes 1 tablespoon of coconut oil! Thanks Cher!