Special K bars are a sweet, no-bake treat that perfectly balance crunchy and chewy in every bite. Made with crispy cereal, a rich peanut butter and sugar mixture, and topped with a smooth layer of melted chocolate and butterscotch, they come together quickly with just a handful of pantry staples. These bars are a staple at potlucks, bake sales, and family gatherings—simple to make, easy to share, and always one of the first desserts to disappear.
Special K Bars
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Yield: 13×9 pan (about 12–18 bars)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Resting Time: 30-40 minutes
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Ingredients
Bars:
❍ ½ cup brown sugar
❍ ½ cup granulated sugar
❍ 1½ cups corn syrup
❍ 1½ cups peanut butter
❍ 6 cups Special K cereal
Frosting:
❍ 1 (11.5 oz) package milk chocolate chips
❍ ⅓ cup peanut butter
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Directions
Prepare pan:
1. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Make the syrup mixture:
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar, and corn syrup.
3. Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
Heat again:
4. Stir, then microwave for another 2 minutes, until the mixture is hot and just starting to bubble.
Add peanut butter:
5. Stir in 1½ cups peanut butter until smooth.
Add cereal:
6. Fold in Special K cereal, mixing until evenly coated.
Press into pan:
7. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press down evenly.
8. Let cool for about 20 minutes.
Make frosting:
9. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and ⅓ cup peanut butter.
10. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth (about 1–1½ minutes total).
Top bars:
11. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the bars.
Set:
12. Let sit at room temperature for about 1 hour until firm.
✳︎ Do not refrigerate (this keeps them from getting too hard).
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Helpful tips
• Don’t overheat the syrup—just bubbling is enough, or the bars can turn hard.
• Lightly butter your hands or a spatula to press the mixture without sticking.
• If your kitchen is warm, they may take a bit longer to set.
Special K Bars
Course: Dessert, BarsDifficulty: Easy9 x 13
pan30
minutes30
minutesIngredients
- Bars:
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1½ cups corn syrup
1½ cups peanut butter
6 cups Special K cereal
- Frosting:
1 (11.5 oz) package milk chocolate chips
⅓ cup peanut butter
Directions
- Bars
- Prepare pan:
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. - Make the syrup mixture:
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine brown sugar, sugar, and corn syrup. - Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
- Heat again:
Stir, then microwave for another 2 minutes, until the mixture is hot and just starting to bubble. - Add peanut butter:
Stir in 1½ cups peanut butter until smooth. - Add cereal:
Fold in Special K cereal, mixing until evenly coated. - Press into pan:
Pour mixture into prepared pan and press down evenly. - Let cool for about 20 minutes
- Frosting
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and ⅓ cup peanut butter.
- Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth (about 1–1½ minutes total).
- Top bars:
Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the bars. - Set:
Let sit at room temperature for about 1 hour until firm. - Do not refrigerate (this keeps them from getting too hard).
- Helpful tips
- Don’t overheat the syrup—just bubbling is enough, or the bars can turn hard.
- Lightly butter your hands or a spatula to press the mixture without sticking.
- If your kitchen is warm, they may take a bit longer to set.
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