Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

These easy no-bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares make great gifts, delicious additions to holiday cookie boxes or Easter baskets, and are perfect for bake sales, potlucks, baby showers, or after-school snacks! I know for many these are a nostalgic Christmas treat! If you love peanut butter, you'll love these Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups and these Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars.

Ingredients and Notes

Butterscotch Chips - The butterscotch chips provide a good balance of flavor with the peanut butter, while also giving these retro squares structure and texture.

Peanut Butter - The creaminess of the peanut butter mixed with the melted chips soften these squares so they have a creamier texture. The peanut butter also provides the primary flavor for these tasty treats.

Butter - Adding butter when melting chips helps ensure they melt smoothly, and gives them a perfect texture and richness of flavor.

Marshmallows - Mini marshmallows are used in these Peanut Butter Marshmallow bars. Because of the size of the bars, larger marshmallows will not work.

Substitutions and Variations

Butterscotch Chips - The butterscotch flavor is not strong in these bars, they take on the peanut butter flavor, but if you don't have butterscotch chips or want to try other flavors, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or even caramel chips could also be delicious! It will, of course, change the flavor of these Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares, but will give a unique flavor that should be just as yummy!

Peanut Butter - I prefer creamy peanut butter, but crunchy will work too and will give these no-bake squares an extra element of texture. An almond butter or sunflower butter can also work, but it needs to be a creamy, spreadable one, not a natural one where the oil separates. And because these butters have more subtle flavors than peanut butter, the flavor of the chips may stand out a bit more.

Mini Marshmallows - I often see these called Confetti Squares and made with the multicolored mini marshmallows, and even fruit flavored rainbow mini marshmallows. I was unable to easily find these anywhere near me so I made them with white mini marshmallows, but if you can get your hands on the colorful ones or the flavored ones, give them a try!

Mix-ins or Toppings - You can add some additional flavor and texture to these no-bake bars by adding mix-ins or toppings such as nuts, coconut, pretzels, chocolate chips, or cereal such as Rice Krispies, Cheerios, Chex, or Cornflakes. Depending on how many mix-ins you're adding, you may need to reduce the amount of marshmallows. If using as toppings, sprinkle over top before refrigerating to set.

How to Make this Recipe

Step 1: Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper. Pour in the marshmallows and spread out evenly into a single layer. Place the pan in the freezer.

Step 2: Combine the butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Heat until the butter and chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.

Step 3: Remove from heat and let sit one minute. Remove the pan from the freezer and pour the warm mixture over the marshmallows. Stir gently to coat the marshmallows.

Step 4: Refrigerate for at least one hour, cut into squares, and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Tips & Tricks

Tip #1: Make sure you're using a freezer-safe pan. I use a metal pan for this. If you don't have a freezer-safe pan, you can skip the freezing, but you will need to let the mixture sit for longer than one minute. The warm mixture poured onto room temperature marshmallows will melt the marshmallows.

Tip #2: Stirring after the peanut butter mixture is added helps ensure the marshmallows are evenly distributed in the bars, and also helps the peanut butter mixture get under the marshmallows so that the marshmallows are throughout the bars and not just on top of the bars.

Tip #3: To add a subtle depth of flavor to these no-bake treats, you can stir in a teaspoon of vanilla and a ¼ teaspoon of salt to the melted peanut butter mixture before pouring over the marshmallows.

Tip #4: These can also be made in a cupcake tin or mini muffin pan lined with paper liners.

Storage Tips

• Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple weeks.
• They can be stored in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before eating!
• They can also be stored at room temperature, but if your kitchen is warm they will get melty. I also personally think they taste even better when they're cold!