Confetti Squares - Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Bars - are a staple of any Manitoba holiday spread. Easy to make, quick to disappear!
Originally posted May 13, 2011. Updated 11/8/2022
When I first posted this recipe, I’d been dealing with a sick husband the past couple of days.
While shopping for "sick" groceries (stuff we didn't have on hand, that are good to have around for illness - OJ, chicken soup, yogurt, etc), somehow I started thinking about confetti bars.
Yeah, I have no idea either. My brain sometimes makes completely bizarre leaps like that.
Anyway, confetti bars.
At the time, I hadn’t had them in a long time. They definitely weren't the ubiquitous party / holiday treat there - we were still in Minnesota - that they are here (now that I’m back home).
With the holiday season coming, I figure it’s the right time of year to update this easy dessert recipe!
What are Confetti Bars?
Confetti bars are a fun little confection made of colourful marshmallows encased in a kind of butterscotch-peanut butter quick, creamy fudge.
You may know them by a different name - I’ve seen them called butterscotch confetti squares, peanut butter butterscotch marshmallow bars, butterscotch marshmallow squares, butterscotch peanut butter marshmallow squares, confetti bars, and peanut butter confetti squares.
In my family, this no bake bar Noelles, my aunt's Sauerkraut Balls, and Dill Dip were basically foundational for any holiday get together.
I'm not taking any credit for this recipe itself, as it's one that you just learn as a kid, and pretty much everyone knows.
You know, aside from most of the Minnesota locals that I know!
I don't know.
Whatever they are, they take like 2 minutes to make, and are super addictive - which you’ll see on your very first bite!
Definitely a case of "The whole being greater than the sum of its parts"!
Ingredients
These butterscotch marshmallow bars are incredibly easy to make, involve very few ingredients, and require no special techniques or even baking.
You will need:
Butterscotch Chips
Creamy Peanut Butter
Butter
Mini Marshmallows (Ideally Rainbow Marshmallows)
Variations
- While Rainbow marshmallows are traditional (and prettier!), you can definitely use plain mini marshmallows if you prefer, or if you can’t find the rainbow ones.
- For chocolate confetti squares, you can swap the butterscotch chips out for chocolate chips.
I prefer Milk Chocolate Chips, but Dark Chocolate Chips - or even White Chocolate Chips - also work.
- While peanut butter is traditional, you can swap it out for other nut or nut-adjacent butters.
As an example, sunflower seed butter would make this accessible to those who have peanut allergies.
How to Make Confetti Squares
The full recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post, here is a quick pictorial walk through.
1. Measure the first 3 ingredients into a large, microwave safe bowl.
2. Melt butter, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips together.
3. Stir everything until smooth.
4. Add marshmallows to the melted butterscotch and peanut butter mixture, stir to coat
5. Spread into a prepared pan.
7. Cut and serve!
Some Helpful Tips
Be sure to prepare your baking pan before you start making the squares.
Butter or pan spray works fine, but I usually prefer to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper or wax paper. This way, I can lift the whole thing out and cut into bars much more easily.
Spraying the pan with pan spray before lining it helps the parchment stick to the pan.
Both variations are pictured in this post.
Be careful when melting your butterscotch chips - you don’t want them to burn.
I’ll usually put them in the microwave for 45-60 seconds to start, stir well, then go in 20-30 second bursts from there.
I usually stop microwaving it before it’s actually all melted, and stir the remaining bits of chips until they melt and everything is smooth.
Not only does this help prevent burning, it helps cool it down a bit - which helps the final texture!
While it’s not 100% necessary, I like to let the mixture cool for a few minutes before adding the marshmallows.
This lets it thicken up slightly, and makes it less likely to melt or shrink the marshmallows.
While this will set at room temperature, it will go a LOT faster in the fridge.
More Canadian Comfort Food!
Whether you’re a Canadian in the US or not, we could all use some comfort food these days. Here are some Canadian Favourites!
Back Bacon / Canadian Bacon
Beep
Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes
Clodhoppers
Dill Pickle Dip
Doughnut Holes - Timbits!
French Canadian Pea Soup
Homemade Deep N Delicious Cake
Homemade Wunderbars
How to Make Peameal Bacon and Back Bacon
Maple Butter Tarts
Montreal Bagels
Persians Recipe
Poutine, My Way!
Puffed Wheat Squares
Tiger Tail Ice Cream
Looking for even more Canadian recipes? Check out our full Canadian Recipes list!
This recipe is one of many fantastic Canadian recipes in my cookbook, "More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land”.
"More than Poutine" is a Canadian cookbook like no other - written by a Canadian living away, it includes both traditional home cooking recipes, as well as accurate homemade versions of many of the snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other food items that are hard to come by outside of Canada!
Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!
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Easy Butterscotch Confetti Squares
Equipment
- 9 x 13 Baking Dish OR
- 8 inch square glass dish
Ingredients
- 1 Package Butterscotch Chips
- 1 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter
- ½ Cup Unsalted Butter
- 1 Small Bag Rainbow Mini Marshmallows
Instructions
- In a glass bowl, heat butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and butter. I like to microwave it for a minute or so, until the chips are about half melted. Stir until everything is melted, combined, and smooth.
- Add in mini marshmallows, stir until all are evenly coated. Use between ½ and 1 small bag of them, depending on your tastes. I usually use about ⅔ of a bag, but used a whole bag for this batch (as pictured). Sometimes you want more of the “fudge” part, sometimes you want more marshmallows. These bars are NOT a hard science ?
- When marshmallows are coated, spread mixture into a lightly greased pan. (I used 8″ x 8″ for 2″ thick bars, 9″ x 13″ is a popular size to use for thinner bars.) Chill until set.
- Slice up and serve!
Video
Nutrition
Older Photos
Mon
I have been looking for this recipe for ever, thanks! Tastes just like home! I'm a Canadian transplanted to Arizona. It's so nice to have some taste of home.
Thanks!
Heather
Definitely a Canadian thing. Grew up in Saskatchewan, where they were always to be found wherever people brought baking, but it's been harder than I thought to find a recipe, and the only recipes I've found have been on Canadian sites (is it a prairies thing?) does anyone know how to do the chocolate ones - do you just use chocolate chips instead of butterscotch?
admin
Yep - just use milk or dark chocolate chips in place of butterscotch. I'll add an extra tablespoon of butter in with it if using dark chocolate, but that's about all!
Kari
Finally!! Oh goodness in have been a searching for this for a so long. I also am a Canadian now living in Arizona and wow I could never describe this enough to anyone to get the recipe and I can not wait to make this for my kiddos. I am so glad I finally came across this.
Shannon W
Could be a prairie thing - I grew up with them in BC, but my Grandma was from Manitoba and they were one of her FAVOURITE. My mom always rolled them into a log shape covered while warm & rolled them in coconut and then made thin slices when it was cool. Definitely the same recipe though. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren
Also made in Ontario
Mandi
These look absolutely magical
Bev
Delicious and easy to make. I might try making them with almond butter.
Sheila A
I've never heard of these in TX, but they look pretty tasty! Will have to try it.
Jen
Do these freeze okay? They seem like something that would be nice to pre-make for Christmas cookie swaps.
Marie Porter
They do!
I haven't frozen them as an adult (we have ZERO CHILL when these are in the house), but as a kid they'd make a bunch, cut them up, and freeze them.
I remember they either tasted good right out of the freezer, or they thawed quickly? There wasn't much wait, either way.
Paul Fleckenstein
The only colored marshmallows I can find are fruit-flavored. Is that what you use?
Marie Porter
Yes!
Sacha
I’m in Alberta, and have always loved these! I just never knew what they were called to search for a recipe! I just happened to pick some up at the co-op gas station as I had a serious craving and now that I know what they are called, I found your recipe! Can’t wait to make my own and not have to pay for them again!!