Butterscotch Confetti Squares
Butterscotch Confetti Squares are one of those addictive treats that are so quick and simple to make and taste totally awesome! Also know as Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares, this treat is something we probably all had as children, but still love as adults.
This confetti square recipe is a no-bake dessert with simple ingredients. Easy to make in under 15 minutes! A peanut butter fudge treat that has colorful fruit flavored marshmallows mixed in.
How to make confetti squares
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and peanut butter together.
Heat only until the mixture is melted and warm. Do not boil.
Remove from heat, make sure the peanut butter mix is NOT too hot before adding the butterscotch chips.
Stir continually until the butterscotch chips are melted.
Important TIP: Before adding the butterscotch chips, you want to have the peanut butter and butter mixture warm enough to melt the butterscotch chips, but not so hot that it seizes them up. This will cause the sugars to become grainy and crystallized, instead of the desirable smooth and creamy texture that makes perfect confetti squares. I dip my finger in the peanut butter mixture to test how hot it is.
Place the marshmallows into a large bowl, pour the peanut butter-butterscotch mixture over and blend until well combined.
Spread evenly into a 8×8 buttered baking pan. Refrigerator until set.
Options:
- If you prefer a greater fudge ratio, simply reduce the mini marshmallows by a cup. A 10 oz. (250 grams) bag is about 5.5 cups.
- I love the fruity flavor of colored marshmallows but they can be substituted with white marshmallows if you like.
Easy to make no bake treats
These sweet treats don’t take a lot of time to make and kids love them!
Butterscotch Confetti Squares
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 package (10 oz) butterscotch chips
- 1 bag (10 oz size) miniature marshmallows colored variety
Instructions
- Place marshmallows into a large bowl.
- In small saucepan melt the peanut butter and butter over LOW heat.
- Remove from heat. Make sure the mixture is not too hot before adding butterscotch chips or they will crystallize. (I stick my finger in to check that it is not too hot)
- Stir in the butterscotch chips and stir continuously until the chips have melted.
- Immediately pour the mixture over the mini marshmallows and blend until well combined.
- Press into 8×8 baking pan that has been greased with butter.
- Refrigerate until firm.
- Cut into 16 large squares.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Is it possible to freeze these squares?
Hi Jen, I have never froze these, but I’m thinking the marshmallows in them won’t freeze well.
I freeze them all the time.have eaten them right from rhe freezer too.
I know Karen, they shouldn’t taste that good frozen!
Meetoo! So good frozen!
It freezes well. Have been freezing them for about 45 years. Marshmallows freeze very well. Keep about 6 – 10 months. Many years ago I decided to try freezing them. I was often throwing 1/2 a package of marshmallows in the garage because they had dried out. Figured if freezing them ruined them I’d lost nothing and if it worked I was ahead. Just get them out and leave on the counter a few minutes and you are good to go.
This was one of the tricks I taught my cooking classes.
They definitely will freeze well.
They do actually freeze pretty good! You can eat them frozen or thaw them out either is delish!!
they do taste great even frozen
Yes, they do freeze. I remember my mom making these at Christmas when I was younger and I would always try to sneak down to the freezer to get some.
Thanks Barb, too funny I loved sneaking frozen goodies out of the freezer as well. As you can imagine with 5 kids in our family all doing the same thing, we got busted by Mom.
I freeze mine, and they are fine.
My aunt makes these all the time and freezes them! Works just fine.
They totally freeze. In fact that’s the best way to have them…All prepped, frozen and ready for Christmas, but sneakily eaten before mom notices. She was so mad we ate these before Christmas.
5 kids all sneaking the frozen treats out of the freezer, you bet my Mom noticed!!
I would sneak down as well to sneak some goodies.
The best memory was when I went to go sneak some and I found my Dad in there doing just that.
He said as long as I didn’t eat him out we could both have some goodies. Lol
I freeze them every Christmas….they freeze great!
Thanks Patti
They freeze great actually
I’d like to add some Rice Krispies, but I sure how much to use..??
Hi Julie, I would add about a cup.
Julie. I’ve been putting Rice Krispies in mine for about 45 years. I always use 1/2 c. Give just a bit of crunch but not an overload of cereal.
RER; BUTTERSCOTCH CONFETTI SQUARES, CAN ONLY FIND THE BIG BAG OF COLOURED MARSHMALLOWS, COULD YOU TELL ME APPROX HOW MANY CUPS THIS RECIPE WOULD NEED WAY TOO MANY TO USE THE BIG BAG. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
It’s roughly about 5 cups
4 cups of marshmallows works well
It actually requires the big bags that they sell in store here in Canada. It looks big so I always chucked in a few extra past of butter, PB and chips. I had to STOP because too often I’d end up with a few cm’s of base without the marshies.
Hi Amy, the recipe requires the 10 oz size of flavoured mini marshmallows.
In Canada that’s a 250g bag or 5.5 cups.
I have to mention this I went to grab my penut butter had a smell it was bad my daughter didn’t put back in the fridge but it was a asume mistake. I was thinking what to do I saw I had almonds butter just like peanut butter but almonds instead this was the one with coconuts buterr to with the almond butter so I used it instead of peanut butter it was so good I had to tell you all.. next time I’m going to explore with other flavors sutch as hazelnuts or even walnuta with half peanut butter sunflour butter it’s endless yummy …give it a try you’ll surprise yourself lol..😊😊😊
Jackie, what a tasty substitution. I’ll give it a try!
My nephew has a severe peanut allergy. Sunbutter is our favourite substitution. He still doesn’t eat them but his wife loves them. Can’t even have peanut smell on her breathe so this is the perfect solution.
Always use almond butter now as a family member has a severe peanut allergy. No one has even noticed the difference.
I was finding it hard to get the confetti squares out of the dish so I lined my glass dish with wax paper. After theybhave cooled in the fridge just lift it all out by grabbing the ends of the wax paper. The wax paper peels right off and then I cut them into squares on the cutting board.
I freeze them! They are fine when defrosted!
Very disappointed in this butterscotch squares recipe, was so thick once you added the chips and made it hard to stir in the marshmallows. Think ill keep with my old recipe!
Hi Laura, it should not have been that thick. My guess it that you had the peanut butter mixture too hot before adding the butterscotch chips and they seized up the mixture. I outlined this in my instructions. I do hope you try it again, as it is a delicious recipe.
One thing our family likes is to add 1/2 c Rice Krispies. It give a little crunch and also seems to take away some of the extreme sweetness.
Do you use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe
can I use peanut butter with nuts or should it be plain peanut butter without the nuts
You could joy, it would just have a bit of crunch to it.
I love that you’ve made this simple. One bag of butterscotch chips and one bag of marshmallows. Other similar recipes suggested measured amounts of those things which just complicated things. Thanks a ton. Made these in minutes, super easy and turned out great!
Thanks Nikki, can’t beat a quick to make, delicious dessert!
Thank you so much. at nearly 10 dollars for a small container of these ready made this recipe is gold.
Thank you Jane, these squares are addictive aren’t they.
what can one use instead of peanut butter as im allergic? would icing sugar work?
Icing sugar will not work, you could try almond butter or some type of peanut butter substitute.
Hi, how far in advance can you make the peanut butter butterscotch squares? And should they be kept in freezer if made 2 weeks ahead? Thank you kindly. Donna
Hi Donna, yes if making them 2 weeks ahead of time I would freeze them. Pre-cut into squares before hand if you like and then store in airtight container or even a freezer bag.
Hi there,
I have searched all over our city and can’t find mini marshmallows anywhere. Is it okay to cut up regular ones for this recipe?
Thanks!
That’s a tough question Candance, it could work but there is also the possibility that they would just mush together.
Luckily my friend came through with exactly the amount of rainbow mini marshmallows I needed so I didn’t have to find out! I was worried about them breaking down too.
Thanks for the recipe! It tastes like home. 🙂
If you did need to cut them I would roll them in icing sugar ( powdered sugar ). This would keep them from sticking together and clumping.
So easy and an absolute crowd favourite!!!! The recipe worked perfectly – thank you!!!!
Thank you so much for your tip on letting the peanut butter and butter cool a bit before you add the chippets. First time ever I was happy with it. I’m 75 so it’s nice to keep learning. They freeze well and taste good frozen or thawed. I use white miniature marshmallows as I prefer them. I usually follow the recipe to a t but that is just my preference. Thanks again.
Didn’t have enough butterscotch chips but turned out really awesome. Substituted the butter for crisco but you wouldn’t even notice the difference. Love it. Thank you.
So yummy!
I used natural peanut but with no sugar so I added an extra 2 tbsp of butter to make the mix more smooth.
Soooooooo good!
It’s the perfect recipe!! Never failed me even once if you follow the directions EXACTLY as written!! You definitely want the mixture to be cool to the touch but not COLD before adding the marshmallows!
could i use caramel sauce instead of chips
Hey Joanne, no caramel sauce would not be a good substitution as the squares would not hold together.
Keep marshmallows in freezer, add frozen marshmallows to mixture. They don’t melt. If done this way.
can butter be replaced for margarine
Hi Marlene, I only used butter when I bake. The flavor is always better, but yes you can substitute with margarine.
If it was possible to give this recipe a negative score I definitely would.
The ratio of the peanut butter mixture to the mini marshmallows is definitely off. What a waste!
Hello Pam, I disagree with you. I have been making this recipe for over 25 years and get rave reviews on it. In fact I just made it again today. Are you sure the measurements of ingredients you used was correct. Packaging sizes have changed considerably these past years. (shrink-flatiron). That is why I add the addition on weight this recipe. Also, If you prefer a higher ratio of peanut butter mixture to the mini marshmallows simple reduce the marshmallows to 4 cups.