Keto rice krispie treats scotcheroos are a must-try for anyone who follows a low-carb diet and enjoys a sweet dessert! This easy recipe requires just 20 minutes of prep time and is gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, egg-free, and refined sugar-free!
This post is sponsored by my favorite low-carb sweetener brand, Lakanto.
It’s safe to say that desserts are my favorite type of recipes to create. I love all things sweet, and ESPECIALLY all things chocolate! It’s no surprise that these rice krispie scotcheroos REALLY hit the spot and have become an instant favorite in our household!
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What are scotcheroos?
If you’ve never had scotcheroos, you’re in for a treat! These delicious dessert bars are a long-time favorite that gained popularity in the 1960s when they were featured as a recipe on a Rice Krispies cereal box!
The recipe for scotcheroos originally used Rice Krispies, butterscotch, chocolate and peanut butter. This low-carb version will taste like the original recipe without the high carb content.
They take just 20 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook. After that, they just need to be chilled before being enjoyed!
Nut-free scotcheroos
These keto-friendly rice crispy treats are nut-free. In place of peanut butter, we use No-Sugar-Added SunButter, which is safe for people with peanut and tree nut allergies.
If, however, you don’t have a nut allergy or intolerance, you can sub in unsweetened peanut butter or unsweetened almond butter at a 1:1 ratio for SunButter.
In addition to using SunButter, one of the key components of this recipe is actually pork rinds. Pork rinds are used to give the treats that familiar Rice Krispie texture while cutting out 90% of the carbs! Don’t worry, using rinds will not alter the flavor.
Net carbs in keto rice crispy treats
This recipe yields 12 delicious, decadent bars. Each serving contains just 1.3 grams of net carbs!
These scotcheroos are totally perfect for the keto diet, and they will satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth!
Ingredients used in keto rice crispy treats scotcheroos
These treats are sweet, yet they don’t contain any refined sugar OR artificial sweeteners!
To add sweetness without adding carbs, we use Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener in this recipe. This is my favorite sweetener that I use in my sweetened keto dessert recipes constantly!
I LOVE Lakanto products because they’re all-natural, GMO-free, AND they don’t spike blood sugar. Plus, their products are net carb-free and taste fantastic!
You can try Lakanto products for 20% off with discount code REALBALANCED! And, if you’d like to just test it out (and get a free recipe eBook in the process), check out this Lakanto Taste Test Bundle deal!
I use Lakanto’s golden monk fruit sweetener in this recipe, but you can use their classic keto sweetener version if that’s what you have on-hand! Substitute them for one another at a 1:1 ratio.
Rice krispie ingredient substitution options
In this recipe, there are a few ingredient substitution options that can be made depending on your dietary needs. Note that any ingredient changes will likely alter the final nutrition information.
- SunButter: You can use unsweetened almond butter or peanut butter in place of SunButter at a 1:1 ratio.
- Unsalted Butter: You can use salted butter at a 1:1 substitution ratio if that’s what you have available. If you do this, omit the added salt the recipe calls for. Note that the flavor may be slightly different than the original recipe intended.
- Coconut Oil: Unsalted butter can be substituted in for coconut oil at a 1:1 ratio.
Materials used for making this recipe
Storing leftover scotcheroos
Keep any uneaten extra scotcheroos refrigerated in an airtight container. They’ll remain fresh for up to 5 days!
How to make keto rice krispie treats scotcheroos
Line baking pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to overhang edges slightly to allow for easy removal. Then, in a food processor, pulse pork rinds until finely ground.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine SunButter and butter until melted.
Mix in crushed pork rinds, shredded coconut, and salt.
Remove saucepan from heat and stir in monk fruit sweetener, syrup, and vanilla extract.
Pour mixture into prepared baking pan and, using hands, press into even layer. Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill for 1 hour, 30 minutes.
With about 15 minutes left of base layer chilling, in a food processor, pulse monk fruit sweetener until powdered. Set aside.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt coconut oil. Mix in cocoa powder, cocoa butter, SunButter, and vanilla extract.
Remove saucepan from heat and, in small batches, stir in powdered monk fruit sweetener.
Allow the melted chocolate to cool for about 5 minutes before pouring chocolate atop the base layer.
Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. Remove pan from refrigerator and pull at edges of parchment paper to remove bars from pan. Slice into bars.
The perfect low carb treat for a variety of diets
Whether you’re keto, grain, or nut-free, you can totally take part in enjoying this tasty treat!
- Keto and Low-Carb: This recipe contains just 1.3 grams of net carbs per serving, making it great for keto and low-carb diets.
- Gluten-Free: This keto rice krispie treats scotcheroos recipe is gluten-free.
- Grain-Free: Grain products are not included in this recipe.
- Nut-Free: This recipe does not include nut products of any kind.
- Egg-Free: Eggs are not used in this recipe.
- Refined Sugar-Free: These scotcheroos call for monk fruit sweetener in place of refined sugars and sweeteners.
Tips to make keto rice krispie treats
Why are there pork rinds in a keto dessert?
Pork rinds may seem like an odd ingredient choice in a dessert recipe, especially if you’ve never used them much before. Pork rinds are a rather remarkable ingredient though and take on sweet flavors really, really well without adding any additional carb content.
Can you taste the pork rinds in keto dessert recipes?
If you follow this recipe as written, including using these pork rinds, you will not taste any savory or “pork-y” flavor in these dessert bars.
Does it matter what brand of pork rinds are used in these low carb scotcheroos?
I personally think you could use most any brand of pork rinds here; however, I have found that these pork rinds from Amazon are the least powerful in terms of pork flavor, which make them a great choice in keto dessert recipes like this one.
Are these like peanut butter rice krispies treats?
Yes, exactly! This recipe is like the one that was posted on a box of Rice Krispies cereal decades ago!
More sweet treats from Real Balanced
Looking for more keto and nut free treat ideas? Try these!
- Keto Gingerbread Holiday Cookies
- Strawberry and Cream Cheese Muffins
- 3-Ingredient Low Carb Fat Bombs
- Keto Peppermint Mocha
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Keto Rice Crispy Treats Scotcheroos
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Keto rice krispie treats scotcheroos are a must-try for anyone who follows a low-carb diet and enjoys a sweet dessert! This easy recipe requires just 20 minutes of prep time and is gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, egg-free, and refined sugar-free! These rice crispy bars are sweetened with monk fruit sweetener and taste just like the original scotcheroos recipe!
Ingredients
Base Layer:
- ¾ cup (192g) SunButter
- ½ cup (4 oz) unsalted butter
- 240g pork rinds (~4 cups crushed pork rinds)
- ¾ cup (60g) unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp (72g) golden monk fruit sweetener
- ¼ cup (60 mL) Maple-Flavored Syrup
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Topping:
- ¼ cup (48g) golden monk fruit sweetener
- ¼ cup (60mL) coconut oil
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp (27g) cocoa butter
- 1 tbsp (16g) SunButter
- ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Base Layer: Line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to overhang edges slightly to allow for easy removal.
- Using a food processor, pulse pork rinds until finely ground. Set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine SunButter and butter until melted. Mix in crushed pork rinds, shredded coconut, and salt. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in monk fruit sweetener, syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour mixture into prepared baking pan and, using hands, press into even layer. Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill for 1 hour, 30 minutes.
- Chocolate Topping: With about 15 minutes left of base layer chilling, in a food processor, pulse monk fruit sweetener until powdered. Set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt coconut oil. Mix in cocoa powder, cocoa butter, SunButter, and vanilla extract. Remove saucepan from heat and, in small batches, stir in powdered monk fruit sweetener.
- Final Steps: Allow melted chocolate to cool for about 5 minutes before pouring chocolate atop base layer. Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. Remove pan from refrigerator and pull at edges of parchment paper to remove bars from pan. Slice into bars.
Recipe Notes:
SunButter Substitution: This recipe can be made seed-free by substituting in unsweetened peanut butter or unsweetened almond butter for SunButter at a 1:1 ratio.
Monk Fruit Sweetener Substitution: In place of golden monk fruit sweetener, classic monk fruit sweetener, erythritol or Swerve can be used at a 1:1 ratio.
Storage: Store scotcheroos in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 5 days.
Keywords: keto rice crispy treats, nut-free scotcheroos, keto rice krispie treats scotcheroos
Sue Stilwell says
I’ve made Scotcheroos since the recipe first came out. They’re a family Christmas tradition. Did I miss what you used for the “Scotch” butterscotch flavor in the chocolate topping?
Sara Nelson says
They’re a favorite in my family, too, Sue! The flavor of the butterscotch comes from the Maple-Flavored Syrup as well as the flavor of the SunButter combined with the vanilla extract.
Dustin says
This recipe is amazing. The chocolate layer is probably the best part about this. It is hands down the best chocolate KETO recipe i’ve ever made at home. I hope you expand on it!
★★★★★
Sara Nelson says
I’m so glad you enjoyed, Dustin!
Lori says
We LOVE these!!! They are what my hubby requested for his Father’s Day treat. Thank you for this ingenious dessert! They are sooo good!!!
★★★★★
Luciana says
Can the butter be substituted to make it dairy free?
Sara Nelson says
That should work just fine!
Morgan Gibson says
What can you sub out the coconut with, I can’t eat coconut
Sara Nelson says
You could try omitting the shredded coconut and, instead, adding more crushed pork rinds in. Can’t say for sure if it will work because I haven’t tested it, but I think it may! For the coconut oil, you can use butter.
Georgia says
I don’t have cocoa butter. What can I use?
Sara Nelson says
Cocoa butter is a required ingredient to make the chocolate.
COLETTE S Bell says
is it 4 cups pork rinds before you crush them up?, or is it 4 cups of crushed pork rinds, that would seem like a lot of bags of pork rinds………
Sara Nelson says
240g crushed pork rinds (4 cups crushed). The kind used are not from a bag (they’re in a container), and I would suggest using the kind suggested in the recipe as they are the most mild tasting.