Special K Bars

4.80 from 10 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see myย disclosure policy

Special K Bars – classic no bake bars that are super easy to make! Loaded with peanut butter and topped with chocolate and butterscotch for a delicious flavor combination.

No bake recipes are some of my favorite. They always come together quickly, and no matter what the weather they are always a hit. This combines chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch, which is a flavor combination that is insanely delicious!

stacked special k bars with a bite taken out of the top one

 

These Butterscotch Rice Krispie Treats skip the chocolate, but the peanut butter and butterscotch together is just a match made in heaven.

They are a super easy no bake dessert recipe that has been around for years. I grew up with my aunt bringing these to pretty much every family function. They are a chewy bar made with Special K cereal, peanut butter, and then topped with melted chocolate and butterscotch chips. A great flavor combo, that you never knew you needed!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy. This is really an easy no bake recipe that you can make in minutes! You melt the ingredients in a saucepan and then just mix together.
  • Easy to Find Ingredients. Simple, every day ingredients you can keep on hand at all times.
  • Potluck Favorite. These are a real crowd pleaser, so if you need something for a potluck, trust me these will disappear in no time!
  • No Waste. This is my favorite recipe because it uses a whole box of cereal. I hate when you make something that has just a little bit remaining and you end up wasting it.
special k bar ingredients

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  • Special K Cereal – the original flavor box of cereal, not the one with red berries or special versions.
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Light Corn Syrup
  • Creamy Peanut Butter – commercial brand creamy peanut butter is best for this as it melts well and the oils don’t separate.
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • Butterscotch Chips
pouring chocolate over special k bars

How To Make Special K Bars

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  1. Melt Ingredients. In a saucepan melt together the sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. You want to stir frequently until it starts to bubble along the edges. You don’t want the mixture to really start to boil, just be on the edge.
  2. Mix Together. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour over the cereal and mix until well coated.
  3. Pan. Spread into your 13×9 inch baking dish, and press into an even layer.
  4. Make Topping. In a microwave safe bowl or over a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture over the bars and spread evenly.
  5. Set Up. Let the bars set up completely (a couple of hours) before serving.
stacked special k bars on a white plate

Recipe Tips

  • Use the commercial brand, mass produced peanut butter for this recipe. You want something like Jif or Skippy for it to work. Because you are combining it and almost making a candy with boiling it, the natural ones that seperate just don’t work the same.
  • Have everything measured when you start. This comes together very quickly, and if you let the mixture cook too long your bars will be hard, so make sure to have everything in place so you can work quickly.
  • Don’t cook your mixture too long, this will make your bars hard and not chewy. You want everything to melt together, and barely start to boil. As soon as you see bubbles form along the edges, you are done. Remove it from the heat and mix with your cereal.
  • I like my bars thick, and i like to make them in a 13×9 inch pan. So you may notice my recipe amounts are a little different then you may have seen or used in the past. Lots of recipes call for an 8×11 inch pan with less ingredients, and say a 13×9 in pan can work your bars will just be thinner. Well, a I picked the most common pan size and just adjusted my recipe to fill the pan. Plus I use a full box of cereal, so you don’t have just a little bit left that ends up getting thrown out.
  • The mixture will be sticky you can use non-stick spray on your hands or a spatula to press the cereal mixture into the pan. Another option is to lightly wet your hands, shake off all of the excess water, just have them damp and press the mixture into the pan.
a special k bar with a bite taken out of it
What is the difference between Special K Bars and Scotcharoos?

They are almost the same recipe, the difference is the cereal used. Special K bars obviously use Special K cereal, while Scotcharoos use Rice Krispie cereal.

How long do these bars last?

If you store these covered at room temperature they will last for 5-6 days. They always disappear much faster, but they should last close to a week.
They also freeze really well. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just take them out and let them thaw on the counter before serving.

Can I use something other than Special K?

Technically, you just need a crispy flaked cereal to make these bars work. Obviously the have the name because of the cereal used, but cornflakes would work if that is what you had on hand.

More Easy No Bake Recipes

close up special k bars
4.80 from 10 votes

Special K Bars

Special K Bars – classic no bake bars that are super easy to make! Loaded with peanut butter and topped with chocolate and butterscotch for a delicious flavor combination.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 24

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a saucepan melt together the sugar and corn syrup over medium heat. You want to stir frequently until it starts to bubble along the edges. You don't want the mixture to really start to boil, just be on the edge.
    1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth.
    1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pour over the cereal and mix until well coated.
    1 9.6 oz box Special K cereal (approximately 8 cups)
  • Pour into a 13×9 inch baking dish, and press into an even layer.
  • In a microwave safe bowl or over a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together until smooth. If using a microwave heat in 45 second intervals, stirring after each until melted and smooth.
    1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips
  • Pour chocolate mixture over the bars and spread evenly.
  • Let the bars set up completely (a couple of hours) before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 176mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin Sellin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dessert Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24
Calories: 357
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

.

About Erin Sellin

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and Iโ€™m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, youโ€™ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

4.80 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

12 Comments

  1. These look amazing! I love the combination of the cereal with the classic peanut butter bar flavors to add more texture and flavor. Yummo!

  2. 5 stars
    This is the easiest and best recipe. I especially like that it uses the full box of Special K. We are not cereal eaters so I don’t like having 3 cups leftover. These bars are soft and chewy.

  3. 5 stars
    Good ol’ Special K Bars can’t be beat! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I lost mine years ago and it was time to make them! Always a hit! Kids love them! Adults as well! Delicious!

  4. 5 stars
    Hi Erin, thanks for sharing an oldie but goodie, ‘can’t go wrong ‘ recipe! Special K Bars are a favorite in my family and my friends love them as well. I used Agave in place of corn syrup so I hope they’re delicious! These are super easy and great for pot luck, picnics, or any day of the week! Yum!