There are so many great holiday sweet treat recipes. Over the years I have tried, modified and created many recipes. But every year when the Christmas season arrives I go back to our family favourites. Luckily no one in our family has a peanut allergy, as Crispy PB Squares top the list. This no bake, easy to make, butterscotch – chocolate topped treat is a winner. My recipe makes a 9″ by 13″ pan so there is more than enough to share with friends, freeze for later or just leave on the counter and watch it disappear.

Crispy PB Squares

What you need

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup smooth peanut butter

5 – 6 cups crispy rice cereal

1 pkg (400 g) butterscotch chips

1 pkg (400 g) semi sweet chocolate chips

How to make them

Grease a 13″ x 9″ x 2″ pan with cooking spray, or margarine, or butter. Set it aside and get out a big pot, I use my Dutch oven (6 quart) because it is easier to mix in all the cereal. Turn on your stove burner to medium and add the corn syrup and sugar. Keep your eye on it and stir the mixture until it starts to bubble and boil. Then take it off the heat and add the peanut butter. Stir, stir, stir until the consistency is super smooth and add the crispy rice cereal. I add the first 5 cups and then add the last cup. Why you say? Because sometimes I over fill one of those first 5 cups and then don’t need the all the 6th. It should be real gooey and the cereal completely covered with the peanut butter mixture. Once you are happy that ample gooeyness has been reached, dump that mixture into the greased pan and press it evenly into all the corners.

In the top of a double boiler, or a glass bowl over a simmering pot of water, pour in the butterscotch chips and the chocolate chips. Once they begin to melt, stir the chips so they mix together and turn silky smooth. Once you are happy that the chips have melted completely (check and stir right to the bottom of the pot or bowl), pour the chocolate over the crispy peanut butter mixture in the pan.

With the back of a spoon, evenly smooth the chocolate over the mixture in the pan. Let it cool on the counter. When cool, cut into squares and enjoy. The squares freeze great so you can save some to serve later. If you are going to keep them on the counter be sure to cover the pan with plastic wrap, or keep them in a plastic covered container so they don’t dry out. I hope you love them as much as we do!