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    Home » Recipes & Food hints » Desserts & Treats

    Special K Cereal Bars - Scotcheroos

    Published: May 9, 2022 · Modified: May 9, 2022 by momcrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Special K Cereal Bars - no-bake

    Special K bars are a chocolate & peanut butter cereal bar treat.  They have a chewy texture and are a delicious no-bake dessert bar.  Easy to make and take less than 30 minutes to put together!

    special k cereal bars stacked on a white plate this to Pinterest

    I was making these Special K Bars the other day, thinking my kids would love this chocolate, peanut buttery treat. Then my older son says, Oh wow! Scotcheroos!! It seems they are a favorite of his and they make them where he works.

    The difference between Special K bars and Scotcheroos

    It's easy! Special K bars use Special K cereal as the base. Scotcheroos use rice Krispies cereal. Technically Scotcheroos are a rice krispie treat!

    Ingredients

    1 cup light corn syrup (found in the baking aisle - Karo is easiest to find)
    1 cup sugar
    1 cup smooth Peanut butter (Use a brand like Jiff or Skippy - don't use an all-natural peanut butter because the recipe may not turn out as well)
    6 cups Special K cereal
    1 cup butterscotch chips
    1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips.

    A bottle of Karo syrop used to make Scotcheroos (aka Special K bars)

    Instructions

    In a large saucepan, add Karo 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.   Add peanut butter and stir until just smooth.

    adding peanut butter to hot sugar mixture

     

    As soon as you have added the peanut butter, turn the heat off.  Stir until smooth and remove from heat.  Do not overheat this mixture, that is what can make these bars hard.

    peanut butter and sugar mixture running off a spoon

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

    pouring peanut butter mixture onto Special K cereal

     

    Dump the cereal, peanut butter, and sugar mixture into a well-greased or sprayed 9 x 13 casserole dish.  I line the dish with parchment paper.  Use a greased spoon to flatten the cereal mixture in the dish.

    smoothing the special K cereal and peanut butter layer

     

    Using a double boiler melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together. OR, a pot on low and watch it very carefully! Stir gently to help melt and combine.

    melting chocolate chips and butterscotch chips

    Pour melted chocolate and butterscotch chips on top of cereal mixture, spreading quickly so you have a nice thin even layer.  Work quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden before it's all spread.

     

    spreading the melted chocolate and butterscotch chips on the cereal layer

    Cool slightly and then cut into squares. It normally takes at least an hour in the fridge to fully cool. The reason I like having parchment is you can take out everything in one piece.  Then it's easier to cut into squares.

    Special K bars prior to cutting on parchment paper.

    I like cutting it into smaller pieces, roughly 2 square inches.

    special k cereal bars stacked on a white plate

     

    Storage tips

    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 piror to eating or they will be hard.

     

    Printable

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    Special K Bars (Scotcheroos)

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    ★★★★★

    4.5 from 2 reviews

    A delicious peanut butter & chocolate dessert with a Special K cereal base.  Easy to make and a no-bake recipe.   If you like peanut butter with chocolate, you'll love these!

    • Author: Susan Moncrieff | Momcrieff
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes plus cooling time
    • Category: dessert
    • Method: stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup light corn syrup
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup Peanut butter
    • 6 cups Special K cereal
    • 1 cup butterscotch chips
    • 1 cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    1. In a large saucepan, add corn syrup. Add sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and stir for about a minute.
    2. Add the peanut butter. Stir until well combined and take off heat
    3. Add peanut butter mixture onto 6 cups cereal in a large bowl.
    4. Stir gently until cereal is evenly coated.
    5. Press into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish (best .
    6. (I love using the gloves I bought at restaurant supply store. Not only do they keep your hands clean, you don't burn your fingers as easily with hot ingredients - baggies work too!)
    7. Gently heat both the butterscotch and chocolate chips until melted. You should use a double boiler. I just use a heavy saucepan and low heat but I watch it very carefully and constantly stir.   Don't overheat or the chocolate changes  texture and isn't smooth.
    8. Once the chips are melted, pour over the cereal mixture and spread evenly.  It's a fairly thin layer and that's all you need!
    9. Place in refrigerator to cool - about an hour.
    10. Cut into small squares (or large ones if you are feeding teens 🙂 ).

    Notes

    Easy peanut butter and chocolate no-bake recipe.

    Keywords: Special K Bars, cereal bar, peanut butter and chocolate, Scotcheroos,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    These squares are awesome if you like peanut butter and chocolate!  They are a great snack and are super easy.  And the bonus is, they are a no-bake recipe.

     

    Do you have any favorite no-bake recipes?  If so, please let me know!

    My family's other chocolate and peanut butter favorite is Puppy Chow (or some call it Muddy Buddies).

    Easy and delicious peanut butter cookies -

    Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

    Special K Bars on a white plate

    **Initially published Oct. 29,2014.

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    Comments

    1. Mary

      August 18, 2020 at 11:02 pm

      Just like mom used to make.
      Mmmmmmmm.

      ★★★★★

    2. momcrieff

      July 04, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      The recipe was corrected! Sorry, I forgot to say that the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips are melted together. Thanks to my readers who pointed this out!!

    3. Gloria J

      May 20, 2019 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks for the recipes. Couple things - Special K bars are made with "Special K" cereal. Scotcheroos are made with "Rice Krispies". Both recipes use same ingredients, just different cereals. This is my (and my son's) favorite treat. I always make the Special K version. As someone pointed out in a comment, your instructions for the "frosting" says peanut butter; should say "butterscotch chips." HELPFUL HINT - sometimes my bars would be extra stiff. I no longer "Boil for 1 minute" the syrup and sugar. Once the syrup and sugar comes to a boil, I remove it from the burner and then stir in peanut butter. Nice and chewy.

      ★★★★

    4. Giforce

      October 22, 2016 at 12:35 pm

      I've been making these for 30 years. To prevent them from getting hard use 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup margarine (not butter)

    5. momcrieff

      October 29, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      Thanks Patti! Hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine did. This will now be a regular at my house!

    6. momcrieff

      October 29, 2014 at 7:32 pm

      Sorry, the recipe did indeed disappear. I'll have it figured out soon!

    7. Patti

      October 29, 2014 at 9:57 am

      Looks great. I can't wait to try it. They seem a little healthy as well as decedant. My family love chocolate and peanut butter. Well, know doesn't....

    8. Anonymous

      October 29, 2014 at 8:37 am

      Recipe please!

    Trackbacks

    1. Let's Bake: Easy Recipes for Kids says:
      July 3, 2020 at 8:00 am

      […] Click for recipe here. […]

    2. Puppy Chow - A chocolate, peanut buttery, sweet treat! - Momcrieff says:
      January 25, 2019 at 1:53 pm

      […] Scotcheroos, also known as Special K bars.   Another chocolaty, peanut buttery treat! […]

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    Hi, I'm Susan! Welcome to Momcrieff.com. I love sharing easy recipes (especially those that take less than 30 minutes and/or have less than 5 ingredients). I also enjoy gardening and creating flower | container gardens. Plus, I share about renovations and updates of my 100-year-old house!.

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