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Special K Bars
Special K Bars are a butterscotchy no-bake recipe with peanut butter and finished with melted chocolate and sea salt flakes.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 642 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon butter softened
- 1⅓ cups granulated sugar (266g)
- 1⅓ cups light corn syrup (320ml)
- 1½ cups creamy peanut butter room temperature (408g)
- 8 cups Special K Cereal (400g)
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (270g)
- 1 cup butterscotch chips (180g)
- Flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan with the softened butter, coating the bottom and the sides.
- In a large pot, combine the sugar and corn syrup. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally until the mixture comes to a boil and all of the sugar is dissolved, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter.
- Add the cereal to the peanut butter mixture. Working quickly, stir everything together until the cereal is well coated. Transfer the mixture to the buttered cake pan and press it into an even layer using a silicone spatula.
- Place the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a medium bowl. Melt over a pot of simmer water or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring frequently, until smooth and combined.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the cereal and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Let stand until set, about 4 hours, before cutting into bars. Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
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Notes
- Grease the cake pan well. For bars that don’t stick, grease the cake pan well with softened butter. Grease both the bottom and sides of the pan. For the cleanest cut, let the bars set for about 4 hours before slicing.
- Make the chocolate butterscotch frosting in a glass bowl. Use a glass bowl that is heat-safe to melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips. The glass will transfer heat well and won’t melt while warming on the stove or in the microwave.
- Use caution when handling the hot syrup mixture. The cooked syrup is very hot and sticky, so be very careful when mixing in the cereal and use a spatula, not your hands, to press the bars into the prepared pan. To include your kids in making this recipe, have them measure the cereal into a large bowl or snack on a few extra chocolate chips while keeping a distance from the hot syrup!
- Try with different varieties of Special K. If you have a favorite variety of Special K cereal, you can make this recipe with any variety of Special K or use 4 cups of classic Special K with 4 cups of another flavor.
- Corn flakes variation. Swap the Special K cereal for the same amount of cornflakes cereal for an easy variation.
Nutrition Information
Calories
642kcal
(32%)
Carbohydrates
99g
(33%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
26g
(40%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
4g
Monounsaturated Fat
11g
Trans Fat
0.04g
Cholesterol
4mg
(1%)
Sodium
360mg
(15%)
Potassium
342mg
(10%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
76g
(152%)
Vitamin A
373IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
37mg
(4%)
Iron
7mg
(39%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 642
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 642kcal | 32% |
| Carbohydrates | 99g | 33% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 0.04g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 4mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 360mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 342mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 76g | 152% |
| Vitamin A | 373IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 37mg | 4% |
| Iron | 7mg | 39% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.