Delicious Scotcharoo Cookies: Your Favorite No-Bake Treat, Now in a Baked Cookie!
Get ready to experience the beloved flavors of classic Scotcheroos in a delightful, chewy cookie form! These **Scotcharoo Cookies** capture that iconic combination of creamy peanut butter, rich chocolate, and sweet butterscotch, all baked into a perfectly tender cookie. If you’re a fan of the traditional rice krispie treat, you’re going to adore this cookie adaptation. Drizzle them with extra melted chocolate and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an irresistible finish that elevates this nostalgic dessert to new heights.
The original Scotcheroos, a no-bake staple for decades, are famous for their addictive blend of rice krispies, peanut butter, and a luscious butterscotch-chocolate topping. We’ve taken those same irresistible elements and transformed them into a soft, chewy, and utterly delicious cookie. This recipe brings all the comforting familiarity of those classic bars but in a wonderfully portable, baked format. Whether you’re making them for a party, a family gathering, or simply to satisfy a sweet craving, these cookies are sure to become a new favorite. Prepare for a harmonious blend of nutty, sweet, and chocolaty goodness in every bite!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Scotcharoo Cookies
Crafting these delectable Scotcharoo Cookies requires a few key ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving their signature taste and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:
- Butter: You’ll need ½ cup of softened salted butter. Butter is crucial for adding moisture and richness, contributing to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie texture. Salted butter helps to balance the sweetness from the sugars and chips, preventing the cookies from being overly cloying. If you only have unsalted butter, simply add a pinch (about ¼ teaspoon) of fine salt to your dry ingredients.
- Sugars: The combination of ½ cup white granulated sugar and ½ cup light brown sugar is essential. Granulated sugar provides sweetness and helps the cookies spread slightly, creating crisp edges. Light brown sugar, with its molasses content, adds moisture, chewiness, and a subtle caramel depth that beautifully complements the peanut butter and butterscotch flavors.
- Egg: One large egg acts as a binder, holding all the ingredients together and providing structure to the cookies. It also contributes to the rich, tender texture.
- Vanilla Extract: A teaspoon of vanilla extract is a must for enhancing the overall flavor profile. Vanilla rounds out the sweetness and adds a warm, aromatic note that elevates all the other ingredients.
- Peanut Butter: ½ cup of creamy peanut butter is the star of these Scotcharoo Cookies! It infuses the dough with its signature nutty flavor and creates that delightful chewy texture we all love. Opt for creamy varieties for the best consistency.
- Flour: 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour forms the structural base of these cookies, ensuring they hold their shape while remaining soft.
- Baking Powder: 1 teaspoon of baking powder acts as the leavening agent, giving the cookies a light lift and contributing to their soft, chewy interior. It’s important to use baking powder, not baking soda, for the desired texture in this specific recipe.
- Chocolate and Butterscotch Chips: The iconic duo! You’ll need 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of butterscotch baking chips. These provide wonderful pockets of melted sweetness and contrasting flavors, making each bite an exciting experience. For an extra punch of flavor and a beautiful finish, consider melting down some additional butterscotch or chocolate chips to drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Expert Tips for Baking Irresistible Scotcharoo Cookies
Achieving the perfect batch of Scotcharoo Cookies is simple with a few helpful tips:
- Choosing the Right Brown Sugar: While both light and dark brown sugar offer moisture and flavor, we highly recommend using light brown sugar for this recipe. Dark brown sugar has a more intense molasses flavor and a higher moisture content, which, when combined with the pronounced sweetness of the butterscotch chips, can make the cookies overly sweet or slightly dense. Light brown sugar strikes the perfect balance, allowing the butterscotch and peanut butter flavors to shine without overwhelming your palate.
- Perfectly Softened Butter: The consistency of your butter is paramount for the best cookie texture. You want your butter to be softened, not melted or at room temperature (which can sometimes be too warm, especially in hot kitchens). Softened butter should yield slightly when pressed with a finger, but still hold its shape. If your butter is too soft, the dough might be too sticky to work with and the cookies could spread excessively. If you’re concerned your butter might be too soft, or if your kitchen is warm, you can cover the prepared cookie dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for about 30 minutes before scooping. This helps firm it up, preventing excessive spreading during baking.
- Mastering the Electric Mixer: Using an electric mixer (either a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer) significantly aids in achieving a light and fluffy cookie dough. When creaming the butter and sugars, aim for a mixture that is noticeably lighter in color and has increased in volume. This process incorporates air, which is vital for a soft, tender cookie. While the recipe suggests creaming for a full 4 minutes, and then another 3 minutes after adding the egg and vanilla, you might reach the desired consistency sooner depending on your mixer’s power. The key is to observe: stop mixing once the sugar is fully dissolved, and the butter-sugar-egg mixture appears pale, airy, and fluffy. Avoid overmixing once the flour is added, as this can develop the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies.
Storage Solutions for Your Peanut Butter Butterscotch Cookies
Once your irresistible batch of Scotcharoo Cookies is baked, knowing how to store them properly will ensure they remain fresh and delicious for as long as possible:
- Room Temperature Storage: For immediate enjoyment, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their freshness and soft, chewy texture for up to 5 to 7 days. Ensure the container is truly airtight to prevent them from drying out. Placing a slice of bread in the container can also help keep them soft, as the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread.
- Refrigerated Storage: If you prefer to keep them slightly cooler, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 days. Be aware that refrigeration can sometimes cause cookies to dry out a little faster and become firmer, so allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
- Freezing for Longer Preservation: For extended storage, these cookies freeze beautifully! To freeze, first allow the cookies to cool completely. Then, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for about 30 minutes until solid. This prevents them from sticking together. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Layer them between sheets of parchment paper if stacking. Properly stored, they can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw the cookies at room temperature for a few hours. For a warm, freshly baked experience, you can gently reheat thawed cookies in a microwave for a few seconds or in a low oven (around 275°F / 135°C) for 5-10 minutes.
Scotcharoo Cookies Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch baking chips
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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Add your softened butter to a large mixing bowl along with the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Use an electric hand mixer to cream the butter and sugars on medium speed for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, add the egg and vanilla. Continue whisking for another 3 minutes. By the time you are done mixing, your batter should be fluffy and light in color.
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Reduce the speed of your hand mixer and mix in the peanut butter until it is completely incorporated. Slowly whisk in the flour and baking powder until no dry clumps of flour remain in the cookie dough.
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Use a silicone spatula to fold in the chocolate and butterscotch chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout your cookie dough.
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Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop balls of cookie dough about 1 ½ tablespoons in size onto a cookie sheet. Space your cookies at least an inch apart to account for spreading and bake for 10-12 minutes.
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If you’d like, you can melt some extra chocolate chips and drizzle them over your cookies as they come out of the oven. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Can I Make Scotcharoo Cookies Without Butterscotch Chips?
Absolutely! While butterscotch chips are integral to the classic “Scotcharoo” flavor, you can certainly customize these cookies to your liking. If butterscotch isn’t your favorite, or if you simply don’t have them on hand, feel free to replace them with an equal amount of additional semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips for an extra boost of nutty flavor. White chocolate chips could also offer a delightful sweetness and a different visual contrast. Keep in mind that omitting butterscotch chips will alter the signature taste, moving them closer to a classic peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, but they will still be incredibly delicious and maintain a wonderful texture.
What is the Difference Between Traditional Scotcheroos and Scotcharoo Cookies?
The names are similar, but the treats are distinct! Traditional Scotcheroos are a beloved no-bake bar typically made with crispy rice cereal, bound together with a warm mixture of peanut butter and corn syrup, then topped with a melted blend of chocolate and butterscotch chips. They are famous for their chewy, crunchy texture and rich flavor without ever seeing an oven.
In contrast, **Scotcharoo Cookies** are a baked adaptation. They take the iconic flavor profile – peanut butter, chocolate, and butterscotch – and incorporate it into a conventional cookie dough made with flour, butter, eggs, and leavening agents. This results in a soft, chewy cookie with slightly crisp edges, offering a different textural experience while delivering that unmistakable flavor combination. Think of them as a baked homage to the classic no-bake treat.
What is the Best Way to Drizzle Chocolate Over Cookies?
Drizzling chocolate over your warm Scotcharoo Cookies adds an elegant touch and an extra layer of chocolatey goodness. Here’s how to achieve perfect drizzles:
- Melt the Chocolate: Use semi-sweet chocolate chips, melting wafers, or a good quality chocolate bar. You can melt it in a microwave-safe bowl in short 15-30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until smooth and fully melted. Alternatively, use a double boiler over simmering water, stirring until glossy. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate, as it can seize.
- Achieve the Right Consistency: If your melted chocolate is too thick, you can add a tiny bit of coconut oil or vegetable oil (about ½ teaspoon per cup of chips) to thin it slightly, making it easier to drizzle.
- Choose Your Tool: For fine, delicate lines, transfer the melted chocolate to a small piping bag or a ziplock bag with a tiny corner snipped off. For a more rustic, thicker drizzle, a fork or a small spoon works wonderfully.
- Drizzle Technique: Hold your hand steady and move it quickly back and forth over the cookies, letting the chocolate fall in thin streams. For best results, drizzle over cookies that are still slightly warm from the oven, as this allows the chocolate to melt slightly into the cookie and adhere beautifully as it cools and sets.
- Let it Set: Allow the drizzled cookies to sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes, or in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes, until the chocolate is fully set.
Tips for Achieving a Fluffy and Light Cookie Batter
A light and fluffy cookie batter is the foundation for perfectly tender and airy cookies. Here’s how to ensure your Scotcharoo Cookies turn out just right:
- Start with Softened Butter: As mentioned earlier, softened butter (not melted or hard) is key. It creams with the sugar much more effectively, incorporating air.
- Cream Butter and Sugars Thoroughly: This is arguably the most critical step. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter with both granulated and brown sugars for at least 3-4 minutes on medium speed. The mixture should become visibly lighter in color, pale yellow, and significantly fluffier. This process creates tiny air pockets that contribute to the cookie’s lift and tenderness.
- Incorporate Egg and Vanilla Fully: After creaming the butter and sugars, add the egg and vanilla extract. Continue to beat the mixture for another 2-3 minutes. The goal is to fully emulsify these ingredients, ensuring a smooth, cohesive, and airy base for your dough. The batter should look uniformly light and fluffy.
- Don’t Overmix Dry Ingredients: Once you add the flour and baking powder, mix them in slowly, just until no dry streaks of flour remain. Overmixing at this stage will develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough, dense cookies. Use a silicone spatula for the final folds to gently incorporate the chocolate and butterscotch chips without overworking the dough.
- Room Temperature Ingredients (mostly): While butter should be softened, ensuring your egg is at room temperature can also help it incorporate more smoothly into the creamed butter and sugar, contributing to a more uniform and aerated batter.
Explore More of Our Simple & Tasty Cookie Recipes:
If you loved these Scotcharoo Cookies, you’ll surely enjoy our other fantastic cookie creations. We have a variety of recipes designed for every taste and occasion:
- These Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are irresistibly soft and chewy, made with butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and plenty of semi-sweet chocolate chips for a rich and tender bite.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are a wonderfully hearty treat. They’re soft, chewy, and loaded with nutty peanut butter, wholesome oats, and melty chocolate chips, offering a perfect blend of texture and flavor.
- Our 10-Cup Cookies are a chewy, flavor-packed delight made with 1 cup each of various delicious mix-ins—like oats, creamy peanut butter, crunchy pecans, shredded coconut, and more—creating the ultimate everything-cookie experience!
- For those who love a grander treat, Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies are made with classic ingredients but baked extra big—twice the size of traditional cookies for double the deliciousness and satisfaction in every bite!
- Our recipe for Toasted Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies offers a sophisticated twist on the classic. It combines rich chocolate chips with the unique, nutty, and buttery flavor of toasted pistachios for extra texture and an unforgettable taste.
- Make a batch of these vibrant Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies that are bursting with fresh fruit flavor! Juicy, tangy raspberries add a delightful twist to the traditional chocolate chip cookie, making them incredibly irresistible and perfect for a burst of freshness.
These **Scotcharoo Cookies** truly deliver on that iconic peanut butter flavor, generously loaded with both luscious chocolate and sweet butterscotch chips, all beautifully finished with an optional decadent chocolate drizzle. It’s your beloved krispie treat in a wonderfully soft, chewy, and baked cookie form that’s perfect for sharing, or simply enjoying all to yourself. We hope you savor every bite!