Easy Special K Bars

Special K bars are an old-fashioned Midwest favorite with chewy peanut butter cereal and a thin layer of chocolate and butterscotch topping. I’ve been making and sharing this recipe since 2014, and I’ve learned that the secret to soft, chewy bars is removing the sugar mixture from the heat as soon as bubbles appear around the edge. Let it boil too long, and the bars can quickly become hard.

This Special K bar recipe is my preferred version of the classic Scotcheroo because the cereal flakes hold plenty of that peanut butter mixture in every bite. These no-bake bars take about 20 minutes to prepare, and I always cut them into small squares because they are rich, sweet, and usually disappear quickly! 

Want a dessert with a brownie twist? Try these easy brookie bars, or if you're in the mood for something nostalgic and peanut buttery, my three-ingredient peanut butter cookies! These are a reader favorite.

Why I Love This Recipe for Special K Bars

Make-ahead dessert: This Special K bar recipe can be prepared in advance and stored at room temperature until you’re ready to serve it.

Special K bars: These bars have the best combination of chewy peanut butter cereal and a smooth chocolate-butterscotch topping.

Reliable results: I’ve learned that gently heating the sugar mixture and removing it as soon as bubbles appear keeps the bars soft instead of hard and crumbly.

Quick preparation: This no-bake dessert takes about 20 minutes to prepare, making it an easy choice when I need a dependable sweet treat.

Easy to serve: I cut these rich bars into small squares. The smaller pieces are just the right size, although people usually come back for another one!

What's the Differencer Between Special K Bars and Scotcheroos

Special K bars and Scotcheroos are very similar no-bake peanut butter and chocolate treats. The main difference is the cereal. Traditional Scotcheroos are made with Rice Krispies, while Special K bars use flat cereal flakes.

I prefer Special K cereal because the flakes hold more of the peanut butter mixture, giving the bars a softer, chewier texture. The names are sometimes used interchangeably, especially here in the Midwest, but the cereal is what distinguishes the two recipes.

Special K Bar Ingredients

• Special K cereal: The original flaked cereal gives these bars their distinctive chewy texture. A store-brand flake cereal can also be used.
• Light corn syrup: This binds the cereal mixture together and helps create soft, chewy Special K bars. Look for clear corn syrup in the baking aisle.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the peanut butter mixture. Avoid boiling the sugar and corn syrup too long, or the finished bars may become hard.
• Creamy peanut butter: Use a traditional creamy peanut butter, such as Jif, Skippy, or a store brand. Natural peanut butter can separate and may prevent the bars from setting properly.
• Chocolate chips: Melted chocolate creates the rich topping. Semi-sweet chocolate chips balance the sweetness of the bars nicely.
• Butterscotch chips: These give the topping its classic Scotcheroo flavor. If you don’t have butterscotch chips, you can replace them with additional chocolate chips.

Helpful Tip - Finding light corn syrup in the grocery store.

Below is what light corn syrup looks like. This is a popular brand you will find in most stores. It's a clear liquid, and you can find it in the baking aisle.

Important Prep tip!

Read through the whole recipe and pre-measure everything. You need to work fast, and the best way to do that in this recipe is to have everything measured and ready to go. If you let the ingredients boil too long or too hard, the final bars can be hard.

How to Make Special K Bars

Step 1
In a large saucepan, add light corn syrup and sugar. Heat on medium heat until just melted and starting to boil.  I usually watch for the bubbles on the side of the pot, like the picture below.   The mixture does NOT need to come to a rolling boil.

Step 2
Turn the heat off as soon as you have added the peanut butter.  Stir until smooth and remove from heat.  Do not overheat this mixture. It can make these bars hard.

Step 3
In a large bowl, add the sugar and peanut butter mixture into six cups of Special K cereal.

Step 4
Dump the cereal, peanut butter, and sugar mixture into a well-sprayed or lined 9 x 13 casserole dish.  I line the casserole dish with parchment paper.  

Helpful Hint - Over your kitchen sink, spray nonstick spray on the back of a large spoon or spatula. The cereal mixture will be easier to spread this way.
It's okay to use a little pressure to compact and flatten the cereal mixture.

Step 5
Melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together. You can melt it on a stovetop with a double boiler or microwave. Use just enough heat to melt, or the chocolate will seize.

Step 6
Pour melted chocolate and butterscotch chips into the cereal mixture, spreading quickly to have a nice, thin, even layer.  Work quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden before it's all spread. It is a thin layer and covers the cereal mixture.

Step 7
Cool slightly and then cut into squares. I let it sit on the counter (or the fridge) for a few minutes then cut it when the chocolate layer has hardened

I like having parchment because you can take out everything in one piece.  Then, it's easier to cut into squares.

I like cutting it into smaller pieces, roughly 2 square inches. People tend to enjoy 2 small pieces rather than 1 big piece.

Storage Tips for Special K Squares Recipe

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They can be refrigerated but should be allowed to come to room temperature before eating, or they will be hard.

Wrap well if freezing. Place parchment paper between layers. Make sure to give enough time to warm to room temperature before eating.

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**Initially published Oct. 29, 2014. Updated for images and clarity.

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