Scotharoos... Simple Treat!
Scotcharoo Bars ... Simple treat!
Sinfully delicious… Perfect treat! Chewy combination of crispy rice cereal, sugar, peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch to make these amazingly yummy treats. Super simple gluten free treat you can make in about 15 minutes or less... pretty inexpensive too. Great for any occasion!
Scotcharoo Bars ... Sinfully good!
Yield: 8-inch square pan (or 25 1-inch square treats)
Ingredients:
1⁄2 cup white corn syrup, regular or lite
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
1⁄2 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
3 cups crispy rice cereal
1⁄2 cup chocolate chips, milk or semi-sweet
1⁄2 cup butterscotch chips
Butter for pan, softened
Garnish: Favorite chips or holiday decorations
Equipment needed:
2 - 3 quart saucepan
Liquid and dry measuring cups
Rubber spatula
Small microwave-safe bowl
Spoon or small spatula
8-inch square baking pan
Aluminum foil
Chef knife & small bent edged spatula for serving
These little treats are my family’s favorite! Gluten-free too! My Foods 1 students would make these in the grain unit and find it so difficult to wait to eat them. Perfect for any gathering, big or small. Soooo simple to make, your kids can help too. Preparation only takes about 15 – 20 minutes...maximum, and then let them set for the topping to harden. You can double the recipe to make a 13 x 9-inch pan as well. Grab the ingredients and let’s cook!
Place the 2 - 3 quart saucepan over medium low heat. (If making a double batch you will need a larger saucepan or pot.) Place corn syrup and granulated sugar in pan and stir using a rubber spatula. This step is the most important one!! Heat the sugar syrup mixture slowly until it becomes clear and the edges just start to simmer (or bubble). This takes about 3 - 5 minutes depending on the heat under the pan. Don’t try to rush the sugar heating too much or the bars will be hard when they cool. Patience is key! When the mixture starts to bubble and steam, turn off the heat! Add the peanut butter and stir until smooth. I use smooth or crunchy peanut butter depending on what I have in the house... both work fine! ** Use a little bit extra peanut butter for a softer bar.
Next add rice cereal to the hot mixture and stir carefully until the cereal is evenly coated. Becareful as you stir not to lose too much cereal... can be a bit messy. Then place the gooey cereal mixture a buttered pan. Press cereal evenly to corners, until the mixture is compact. I often wet my fingers or rubber spatula a bit to ease the sticking as I press down too. Set the pan aside as you prepare the chocolate/butterscotch topping.
Now for the final steps! Place both chocolate and butterscotch chips in a microwave-safe bowl and stir with a spoon or small spatula to combine. Heat chips for 20 - 30 second increments, stirring in between each setting, until chips are smooth. Don’t overcook them or they will burn and become hard! Depending on the strength of your microwave it usually takes 1 - 2 minutes. When chips are smooth, pour on top of the pan of compressed bars and spread to evenly coat. Don’t forget to spread to the edges and corners too so every bar is yummy! Allow bars to cool for about 30 – 60 minutes before cutting. Topping needs to be hard prior to cutting. I sometimes set them somewhere cool (refrigerator or outside in cool weather) to quicken the hardening process. Decorate them however you choose… Summer, Fall, or your favorite holiday!! When bars are cool, using a chef knife, cut into small squares for serving... and eating!
Go ahead... take a bite! The combination of chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter is absolutely sinful! You will find it difficult to eat just one... Hopefully you made a double batch…Enjoy!