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    Home » Easy Recipes » Desserts & Treats

    Special K Bars

    Published: Jan 23, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Special K bars are a delicious 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!

    A plate of Special K Cereal bars.  this to Pinterest

    These have been a family favorite for years! The chocolate and butterscotch frosting is divine! If your family loves fun cereal treats, try these Apple Jacks apples. They are great year-round but especially fun in the fall! If it's a peanut butter craving you are having, make these three ingredient peanut butter cookies.

    Table of contents

    • The difference between Special K bars vs Scotcheroos
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage Tips
    • FAQ's

    The difference between Special K bars vs 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. To many people, the terms are interchangeable.

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    Ingredients

    ingredients for special K cereal including cereal, light corn syrup, chocolate and butterscotch chips, peanut butter and sugar.
    • Special K Cereal
    • Light Corn Syrup
    • Smooth Peanut Butter
    • Butterscotch Chips
    • Chocolate Chips
    • Sugar
    A bottle of Karo syrop used to make Scotcheroos (aka Special K bars)
    This is a popular brand of corn syrup. Light corn syrup is clear.

    Hint

    Use a commercial type smooth peanut butter (Use a brand like Jiff or Skippy). Don't use all-natural peanut butter because the recipe may not turn out as well.

    Instructions

    Work fast with the following steps. If you let the ingredients boil too long or too hard, the final bars can be hard.

    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.   Add peanut butter and stir until just smooth.

    adding peanut butter to hot sugar mixture

    Step 2

    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

    Step 3

    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

    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.  Use a the back of a greased spoon to flatten the cereal mixture in the dish.

    smoothing the special K cereal and peanut butter layer

    Step 5

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

    melting chocolate chips and butterscotch chips

    Step 6

    Pour melted chocolate and butterscotch chips on top of the 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. It is a thin layer and just covers the cereal mixture..

    spreading the melted chocolate and butterscotch chips on the cereal layer

    Step 7

    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

    If your family loves peanut butter desserts, they will love these three ingredient peanut butter cookies!

    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 prior to eating or they will be hard.

    Wrap well if freezing. Make sure to give enough time to warm to room temperature prior to eating.

    FAQ's

    Why do these turn out hard sometimes?

    Make sure you don't boil the sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter mixture. It needs to be heated enough smoothly cover the cereal but you are not cooking it.

    Can I use rice crispies or corn flakes?

    Yes! Some folks insist the cereal needs to be Special K cereal. I believe you can use what you have!

    Special K Bars (Scotcheroos)

    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!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Calories:
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    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

    • In a large saucepan, add corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil and stir for about a minute.
    • Add the peanut butter. Stir until well combined and take off heat
    • Add peanut butter mixture onto 6 cups cereal in a large bowl.
    • Stir gently until cereal is evenly coated.
    • Press into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
    • 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.
    • 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!
    • Place in refrigerator to cool - about an hour.
    • Cut into small squares (or large ones if you are feeding teens 🙂 ).

    Notes

    Make sure to work fast putting this recipe together.  
     

    Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

    Special K Bars on a white plate

    **Initially published Oct. 29, 2014.

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    Comments

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    1. Mary

      August 18, 2020 at 11:02 pm

      Just like mom used to make.
      Mmmmmmmm.

      Reply
    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!!

      Reply
    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.

      Reply
    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)

      Reply
    5. momcrieff

      October 29, 2014 at 7:32 pm

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

      Reply
    6. 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....

      Reply
      • 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!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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