Crispy Peanut Butterscotch Layer Squares (No Bake)

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

These are so good...a crispy rice cereal bottom crust with a butterscotch/peanut butter fudge-like texture topping... sprinkled with chopped peanuts.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 25

Yield: 1.0 (13x9-i ...

CRUST

• 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups toasted rice cereal

BUTTERSCOTCH LAYER

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 3/4 cup creamy butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

1. For crust:.
2. Grease a 13 x 9-inch OR a 11 x 7-inch baking pan and a rubber spatula with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Melt the butter over low heat in a medium heavy duty saucepan.
4. Add in the marshmallows and peanut butter; stir until melted.
5. Add in the rice cereal; stir until coated.
6. Press into bottom of a prepared baking pan, using a greased rubber spatula (or greased fingers if desired); set aside.
7. For butterscotch layer:.
8. In a medium heavy-duty saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk, 2 Tbsp margarine (if using) and salt; bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, boil and stir constantly for 4-5 minutes.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Stir in the marshmallows, butterscotch chips, peanut butter and vanilla; stir vigorously for 1 minute until the marshmallows and the baking chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.
11. Pour over the rice cereal crust in the baking pan.
12. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
13. Refrigerate until set.
14. Cut into squares.

Reviews

[rosslare]

Absolutely superb sweet and salty square, great texture of soft and crunchy! Just a tad on a too sweet side, next time will try 1 1/4 cup sugar only, see if it still sets the same.

[Debbb]

What a unique square! I really liked the contrast of the crunchy cereal layer & the smooth fudge layer. These are very sweet, though, so you can cut them into small squares.

[Lori Mama]

This bar was right up my husbands alley. I used colored mini marshmellows as that's all I had on hand. That didn't seem to make a differance though. It's a keeper. :)