Sweet and delicious… those two words sum up these amazing no-bake gluten-free butterscotch bars! Made with whole oats, sweetened with raw honey, and containing the perfect sticky butterscotch flavor, these bars are perfection. Anything that is no-bake, contains peanut butter and butterscotch, and is topped with a soft and creamy chocolate topping has to be the ultimate summer dessert! These bars are just what you need for a mid-day snack or as a sweet dessert for your summer grill-out. Made with wholesome ingredients and super easy to whip-up, they will quickly become a favorite with modern pioneers of all ages!
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Modern Pioneer Recipe
These no-bake butterscotch bars definitely a modern pioneer recipe. The early pioneers would not have had butterscotch to make delicious treats with, but as modern pioneers, we can turn a sweet butterscotch treat into something healthier that qualifies as a modern pioneer recipe.
I typically think of butterscotch as being a high sugar, unhealthy treat. And classical butterscotch is typically full of corn syrup and other unhealth sugars. However, I love the flavor of butterscotch, so I had to find healthier, modern pioneer alternatives to enjoy butterscotch treats!
For my favorite grain-free butterscotch pie, I make my own butterscotch pudding from scratch. For these no-bake butterscotch bars, I use Lily’s sugar-free white chocolate butterscotch chips. Lily’s white chocolate butterscotch chips do contain some dairy, but I have found that the small amount of dairy contained in the chips doesn’t negatively effect me. I do like that the Lily’s butterscotch are naturally sweetened with stevia and contain other simple ingredients. I don’t have them on a regular basis, but for special treats like these butterscotch bars, they work perfectly!
The rest of the ingredients in these no-bake bars are also wholesome and simple. Raw honey provides the perfect natural sweetener and whole oats are the perfect wholesome substitute for a brown-rice cereal. These no-bake gluten-free butterscotch bars are…
- gluten-free
- tree nut free
- soy free
- corn free
- brown rice free
- naturally sweetened
What is Stevia & Erythitol?
Lily’s Sweets chocolate uses stevia and erythritol to create ‘sugar free’ chocolate bars, baking chocolates, and chocolate cups. Both stevia and erythritol are naturally sweet and used as refined sugar substitutes.
Stevia is a plant-based sweetener derived from the stevia plant. Lily’s Sweets use stevia extract in their chocolate since it is all-natural and zero calorie. Stevia has been used a natural sweetener for years, especially in South America where the stevia plant is native to.
Erythritol is an organic compound called a sugar alcohol. It can be derived from corn using enzymes and fermentation or it can be derived from certain lichens and algae. Erythritol derived from plant sources other than corn are the healthiest forms of erythritol. It too is a low calorie sweetener that can be used as a substitute for refined sugar.
While plant-based sugar substitutes like stevia and erythritol are perfect for avoiding refined sugars and sticking to a low calorie diet, they can sometimes be hard for sensitive digestive systems to digest. Stevia is generally tolerated by most people with digestive issues since it has a higher digestive rate and most of the sugar alcohols it contains are excreted unchanged.
Erythritol is thought to have minimal affects on blood sugar and insulin levels. It too can often be tolerated by people with sensitive digestive systems if it is derived from healthy sources. The sugar alcohols in erythritol are small in molecular size, making them easier to absorb by the digestive system. However, erythritol is not metabolized like regular sugar which is why erythritol is low calorie and is zero on the glycemic index.
Lily’s Sweets derives their erythitol from sources that are non-GMO.
Recipe Questions
Can I use other chocolate chips in this recipe besides Lily’s?
Yes! Any kind of butterscotch chips will work in the bars and any chocolate chips will work for the chocolate topping! As a modern pioneer, I try to stick to chocolates that are low in sugar or naturally sweetened, like Lily’s Sweets chocolate chips. If you are looking for an allergy-friendly option, check out Enjoy Life chocolate chips or try making your own butterscotch chips!
What is the inulin and dextrin listed in Lily’s chocolate ingredients?
Two ingredients that may raise eyebrows from modern pioneers that are in Lily’s Sweets chocolate are inulin and dextrin. Inulin is a soluble plant fiber that Lily’s Sweets derives from chicory root. Dextrin is a dietary fiber that is starchy and derived from non-GMO corn.
Whole both ingredients are not the best to have in large quantities on a regular basis, they are fine to have on special occasions. Like when you enjoy these no-bake butterscotch bars!
Are there other sweeteners I can use besides honey?
When making the actual butterscotch bars, I use raw honey as the natural sweetener. I have not tried making these bars with any other sweetener. Honey has the perfect sticky, sweet consistency that helps these bars stay together and be perfectly sweet. Maple syrup is another natural sweetener that you may try, however, it has a thinner consistency than honey and may affect that consistency of the bars.
Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Although I have not tested this recipe with quick oats, I do believe they would work in place of whole oats.
Want a quick and easy no-bake dessert that has little crunch to it? Make sure you check out these gluten-free moose bars or these amazing grain-free cereal bars!
Why is the mixture so stiff when I stir in the butterscotch to the oats?
Due to the nature of the white chocolate butterscotch chips, the butterscotch mixture will start to stiffen quickly after you remove it from the heat. You will want to stir it into the oats quickly and use some ‘elbow grease’ to get everything incorporated and spread in the pan. Stiffening of the mixture is natural, you just have to work quickly to prevent it from becoming frustrating!
Can I use a different oil besides coconut oil in the chocolate topping?
The coconut oil in the chocolate topping does not give the topping a coconut-flavor, however, you can use butter in place of the coconut oil.
Looking for a dairy-free, no-bake treat that you can enjoy for dessert or snack? Then you have to check out these no-bake peanut butter protein bars!
How should I store no-bake butterscotch bars?
You can store no-bake butterscotch bars at room temperature or in the fridge. Given their no-bake properties, they are susceptible to warm or hot temperatures. The bars may get very soft and the chocolate topping may start to melt if they are left in hot temperatures for too long.
Can I make these bars peanut free?
You can use any nut or seed butter in place of the peanut butter!
These no-bake gluten-free butterscotch bars are super easy and quick to make! They use simple, wholesome ingredients to provide you with a sweet and delicious dessert that is perfect after any summer homestead meal!
No-Bake Gluten-free Butterscotch Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 1/4 cup + 2 T. organic peanut butter
- 3/4 cup Lily's Sweets butterscotch chips
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups whole oats
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips topping
- 1 T. coconut oil topping
Instructions
- Line a 9×9" glass baking dish with unbleached parchment paper.
- Add the whole oats to a large mixing bowl.
- In a large saucepan, combine the raw honey, peanut butter, butterscotch chips, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium heat until the butterscotch chips are melted and the mixure is smooth.
- Quickly stir the butterscotch mixture into the whole oats until everything is evenly incorporated. Spread the mixture evenly into the 9×9" baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, heat the chocolate chips and coconut oil over low heat. Stir until the chocolate chips and coconut oil are melted and smooth.
- Spread the chocolate topping over the butterscotch bars. Allow the chocolate to harden at room temperature or in the fridge before slicing the bars.Enjoy!
Where to Find the Ingredients
- Lily’s Sweets butterscotch chips (only available at Walmart)
- Lily’s Sweets semi-sweet chocolate baking chips
- Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips
- Nature Nate’s raw honey
- Organic peanut butter (sugar free)
- Simply Organic vanilla extract
- Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free whole oats
- Nutiva coconut oil
- Supplies: large saucepan, 9×9″ glass baking dish, unbleached parchment paper
You can make these no-bake gluten-free butterscotch bars using Lily’s Sweets butterscotch chips, raw honey as a sweetener, whole oats instead of a brown rice cereal, and top them with the perfect, soft chocolate topping. They are a sweet dessert that you won’t be able to resist! I love that I can whip up a batch of these dessert bars without having to turn the oven on during hot summer days. The whole oats soften perfectly in the sticky butterscotch mixture which gives you a delicious, sweet dessert bar that is bursting with butterscotch flavor nicely complimented by a thick layer of chocolate topping. These butterscotch bars won’t last long on your homestead!
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by Alexa
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