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Easy Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

These classic Butterscotch Peanut Butter Butterscotch Marshmallow Squares are one of my favourite nostalgic childhood treats. Creamy peanut butter and butterscotch chips mixed in with rainbow coloured marshmallows are truly a match made in heaven!

best ever peanut butter butterscotch squares

These No Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares are from my repertoire of my Grandma Yvette’s recipes, she was the baking and cooking queen! Having treats ready for company at any time was really common in my grandma’s house. 

If you stopped by there would always be a fresh batch of her famous Chocolate Chip Cookies, her mouth watering Gluten Free Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, her amazing 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Balls or her Peanut Butter Butterscotch Marshmallow Squares!

I’m actually not the biggest fan of butterscotch. But when it comes to these bars, I AM OBSESSED.

easy no bake peanut butter marshmallow square recipe

I’m convinced it has something to do with the salt in the peanut butter, which makes the butterscotch less sweet and butterscotch-y. Instead all I taste is creamy, marshmallow goodness!

This recipe goes by a lot of different names. Peanut butter marshmallow bars, confetti squares, no bake goodie bars, etc.

Whatever you choose to call them, they are extremely popular to make for the holidays!

5 ingredient peanut butter butterscotch marshmallow barsIngredients for the Easy No Bake Squares

Peanut Butter (Creamy or Crunchy) – for this recipe my grandmother used to always use creamy peanut butter. Whether you are using natural peanut butter, unsalted peanut butter, crunchy peanut butter, organic peanut butter or good old fashioned jif peanut butter. 

Butterscotch Chips – I typically use the Chipits butterscotch chips. There are lower sugar options like Lilys butterscotch candies, and I’m sure you could also find vegan butterscotch chips as well! Some individuals who have tested out this recipe have also substituted some of the butterscotch chips for regular chocolate chips to cut down the sweetness. 

Butter – my grandmother always used regular old fashioned butter. You could try this recipe using vegan butter as well if you like or if you’re sensitive to dairy. 

Rainbow Coloured Miniature Marshmallows – colored marshmallows recipes have to be the best recipes around. You are more than welcome to use regular mini white marshmallows for this recipe, but it might not be as fun! Fun fact – sometimes I wonder how many mini marshmallows are in a bag.

Vanilla – vanilla extract, because it just adds a little something something to marshmallow dessert recipes!

easy peanut butter confetti bar recipe

Kitchen Tools Required

How To Make

  1. In a large pot over medium-low heat, combine the butterscotch chips, peanut butter and butter. Stir frequently until the mixture is completely melted.
  2. Let cool, and fold in marshmallows and vanilla quickly. I like to throw my marshmallows in the freezer for 10 minutes before this step to prevent them from melting all together.
  3. Pour the mixture into a lined 8×8 or 9×9 inch pan and spread evenly. Refrigerate for 1 hour minimum to set, then cut into bars. Store in refrigerator or freezer (I actually prefer mine straight from the freezer).

marshmallow fudge dessert recipe

Tips for the Best Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

Typically before I start making the recipe I throw the bag of marshmallows in the freezer. This way the marshmallows don’t melt when the peanut butter mixture is still slightly warm and hits them.

Not only does refrigerating them help them firm up faster so you can eat them faster, but these squares taste way better cold. The creamy peanut butter base with the cold marshmallows is just a match made in heaven!

Believe it or not, these are even BETTER when they are frozen.

I like using crunchy peanut butter for this recipe because it gives the bars a nice crunch. Also ensure to use a tasty peanut butter, preferably a salted one for this recipe!

The combo of the salt from the peanut butter and sweetness from the butterscotch chips is amazing.

It’s a quick recipe that comes together within 5 minutes and probably takes about an hour to set before you can cut them into bars. But you can speed up the cooling time by sticking the bars in the fridge!

Or if you live in a cold climate like me, stick them outside or on your porch, which acts as a second fridge all winter season.

best ever 5 ingredient peanut butter marshmallow recipe

Other Delicious Easy Treats You May Want To Try!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, so you can conveniently find the ingredients you need to make the peanut butter confetti squares.

Yield: 20 pieces

No Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

No Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

These classic Butterscotch Peanut Butter Butterscotch Marshmallow Squares are one of my favourite nostalgic childhood treats. Creamy peanut butter and butterscotch chips mixed in with rainbow coloured marshmallows are truly a match made in heaven!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 package butterscotch chips, 300g package (I used Chipits)
  • 1 cup crunchy or creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 package rainbow miniature marshmallows, 250g package
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Put bag of marshmallows in the freezer and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
  2. Melt butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and butter, peanut butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and let cool to ensure the marshmallows don't melt in next step.
  3. Quickly fold in vanilla and marshmallows.
  4. Spread mixture into 8×8 or 9x9 inch pan and gently spread with a spatula or spoon.
  5. Refrigerate until firm. Approximately 1 hour.
  6. Remove from pan and slice into squares. Store squares in refrigerator or freezer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

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bailey

About Bailey

I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…

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115 Comments

  1. Love these treats, going to make them this week,

  2. Mark R Fitzgerald says:

    Great recipe. I add 2 heaping cups of Rice Krispies and these disappear when put out.

    1. Hi Mark,

      So happy to hear this! Thank you so much for the 5 star review!! 🙂

  3. Can you use peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch?

    Julie

    1. Hi Julie,

      Yes you can, it will just alter the flavour of the dessert a lot. I would recommend white chocolate chips, or semi sweet chocolate chips instead! 🙂

  4. A family favourite that I get requested all the time. It’s so simple and so delicious!

  5. If I dont have butterscotch chips is there something else I would be able to use instead? I was thinking maybe white chocolate chips and a butterscotch pudding mix. Don’t know if that would work or not.
    Thanks so much

    1. Hi Jaclyn,

      White chocolate chips would probably be delicious and the recipe will set perfectly! Let me know if you try it!!

  6. I had a recipe that wasn’t as good. This recipe seems to be the one my Mom had!

    1. Hi Marilyn,

      I’m so happy to hear that! Happy Holidays and thank you for the 5 star review!

  7. Are the coloured Marshmallows just like the white ones only coloured? The only coloured ones I can find here are fruit flavoured.

    1. Hi Krista,

      They are fruit flavoured but you don’t really taste the fruit! It’s more for the looks! You can definitely substitute for white ones, I use whatever I have on hand!

  8. Wow I’m in awe these squares were so easy to make crazy they only require 5 ingredients! Makes for a perfect no bake day with the kids!! My great grandmother used to make these sadly she’s passed on but the nostalgia and the identical taste brought me to tears thank you so much for this recipe I’m so grateful 🧡🧡

    1. Hi Angelica,

      Well this just made my entire day! I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much!! These remind me of my grandmother as well, my family and I make them every year!! Happy Holidays!!!

    1. Hi Ann,

      So glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you so much for the 5 star review!! 🙂

  9. Looks so yummy 😋! Also smells very good 😊

    1. Hi Lindsey,

      Thank you so much for this 5 star review! They are just my favourite and I’m glad you enjoyed them too!! “)

  10. We have always made these with rice krispies.

    1. Hi Veronica,

      YUM that would be such an amazing addition! I might need to try that next time!! 🙂

  11. Sabrina Ecker says:

    going to make them this year for cheistmas and new year….

    1. Hi Sabrina,

      LOVE IT!! Can’t wait to hear what you think!! 🙂

  12. Great recipe make them every year. Really recommend them to people.

    1. Hi Santino,

      Thank you SO much for this review! So glad you enjoy them!! 🙂

  13. I love this recipe! I do tweek it a bit tho! I make a graham cracker crust for the bottom. Makes true “Smore’s”. I use chocolate chips instead of the butterscotch. I have nothing against butterscotch! Just don’t crave it like chocolate!

    1. Hi Eva,

      OKAY THIS SOUNDS DELICIOUS!! I may need to try this in the New Year!! **** drooling

  14. Hello Bails

    Thank you for the fabulous recipe! My granddaughter Bails (Bailey) loves these! Just waiting for them to “set up”! Yummy!!
    Merry Christmas and all the best in 2022! 🎄🎄

    1. Hi Bonnie! Thank you so much for the 5 star review and I’m so glad you liked these! All the best to you in the New Year as well!!

  15. My daughter loves these and I have never made them. This recipe is very easy, loved the tip about putting the marshmallows in the freezer, it worked well. I used caramel extract instead of vanilla and they were very good. Thanks!

    1. Hi Sandy,

      Thank you so much for the 5 star review! Those substitutions sound delicious! Happy Holidays and hope you have an amazing 2022! 🙂

  16. I put chopped up apples and cinnamon, extremely delicious.

  17. These are absolutely incredible!!! Truly the best ones I’ve ever had and the freezing of the marshmallows was a very good tip! Thank you!!!!!!

  18. We made these over Christmas, they were so easy to make and they are so good! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

  19. Cheryl Enquist says:

    I’ve made these for years but have never heard of putting the marshmallows in the freezer first what a great idea. And the thought of adding vanilla just blew my mind. I making these with sunflower butter for my mother-in-law Hope she appreciates the different flavour and texture versus the peanut butter. Thank you very much for your recipe.

    1. Hi Cheryl,

      Thank you so so much for this 5 star review!!