These Chewy Special K Bars deliver delightful peanut butter flavor in a simple no-bake form. The bars combine crunchy cereal with chocolate and butterscotch chips for a delicious treat.
Recipe Details
I adore these Chewy Special K Bars for their perfect balance of textures and flavors: they’re both crunchy and chewy, sweet and salty. These bars are utterly addictive and make for an ideal afternoon snack or a lovely addition to a dessert spread. You’re going to enjoy them!
- TASTE: Each bar is bursting with a delightful salty-sweet profile, enriched by chocolate, butterscotch, and notably, peanut butter.
- TEXTURE: The dessert features a satisfying crunch thanks to the cereal, along with a chewy consistency owing to the melted chocolate and creamy peanut butter.
- TIME: You can whip up this recipe in under 20 minutes.
- EASE: This uncomplicated no-bake recipe is quick to prepare, making it easy to satisfy your cravings anytime.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Light corn syrup: This viscous sweetener helps the bars maintain their structure as they cool.
- Granulated sugar: When melted into a syrup, it adds sweetness to the bars.
- Special K cereal: Serving as the foundational base, the cereal contributes both flavor and crunch.
- Unsalted butter: Used to grease the pan for easier removal of the bars.
- Creamy peanut butter: Creamy texture is preferable for better binding, though crunchy can be used for added texture.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: These provide a balance of sweet and bitter chocolate flavors.
- Butterscotch chips: These add a rich, buttery caramel taste with hints of toffee.
- Coarse sea salt: Optional for sprinkling on top; adds a burst of salty flavor with every bite.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute another cereal: Experiment with different cereals like Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Pebbles for variations.
- Make it gluten-free: Swap in a rice or corn-based cereal, such as Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes, for a gluten-free option.
- Substitute the chocolate chips: Options like dark, milk, or white chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips, can be used.
- Make them dairy-free: Use dairy-free chocolate chips and replace butter with oil to avoid dairy.
How to Make Chewy Special K Bars
- Boil the sweeteners. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the granulated sugar and light corn syrup. Stir and bring to a boil before removing from the heat.
- Add the peanut butter. Mix in the peanut butter until fully incorporated.
Pro Tip: Ensure the peanut butter is at room temperature to make it easy to mix. Cold peanut butter will be stiff and clumpy.
- Mix with the Special K cereal. Transfer the cereal to a large bowl, followed by adding the peanut butter mixture. Stir well using a large spoon, working quickly to ensure the sugars don’t firm up too much.
- Press the mixture into the dish. Once thoroughly combined, use a spatula to press the cereal mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips. In a saucepan over low heat, gently melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Avoid hastening this step to prevent burning or seizing the chocolate.
- Spread the melted mix over the cereal mixture. Once smooth, pour it over the cereal in the baking dish and spread it evenly. Optionally, sprinkle coarse sea salt over the top. Allow it to set for about 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Tips for the Recipe
- Utilize room temperature peanut butter – Make sure the peanut butter is at room temperature to ensure a smooth mixing process with the sugars, preventing clumping or cooling of the melted ingredients.
- Opt for creamy emulsified peanut butter – While natural peanut butter requires stirring, for this recipe, a creamy brand will blend more seamlessly with the sugars, providing a smoother consistency.
- Mix quickly after adding the peanut butter to the cereal – As the sugars may start to cool, you’ll need to combine the ingredients swiftly and pack them into the baking dish before they set too firmly.
- Take your time melting the chocolate – Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips on low heat to prevent burning or seizing. Patience pays off for the best results!
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes Special K bars to become hard?
If your Special K bars turn out hard, you may have overcooked the sugar and corn syrup mixture. This can lead to crystallization of the sugar, resulting in firmness rather than chewiness. Ensure to remove the mixture from heat as soon as it reaches a boil before adding the peanut butter.
How do Special K bars differ from scotcheroos?
Special K bars and scotcheroos are quite similar, with the primary distinction being the cereal used. Scotcheroos typically utilize Rice Krispies, whereas Special K bars are made with Special K cereal. Both recipes share common ingredients such as sugar, chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch.
Serving Suggestions
These homemade Special K Bars make for a delightful dessert that can complement other sweet offerings or beverages. Pair them with your favorites for the most enjoyable dessert buffet.
- Chocolate treats: Complement these cereal bars with Chocolate Brandy Fig Bonbons, Chocolate Bark, Chocolate Covered Dates, or Paleo Chocolate Fudge.
- Cookies: Offer them alongside Chocolate Macarons, Pecan Shortbread Cookies, Cookies And Cream Cookies, or Monster Cookies.
- Cakes: These Chewy Special K Bars pair wonderfully with Tiramisu Cake (VIDEO), Chocolate Mousse Cake, No Bake Mini Cheesecakes (VIDEO), or Nutella Cake.
- Beverages: Enjoy these sweets with a Hot Chocolate, Caramel Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat), Pumpkin Spice Latte, or Iced Caramel Macchiato.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: While this recipe is fairly quick to prepare, you can get a jump start by mixing the bar ingredients together and pressing them into a baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature until you’re ready to melt the chocolate and add it.
Storing: Keep these chewy Special K bars in an airtight container at room temperature; they will stay fresh for approximately four days.
Freeze: Once the bars have cooled completely, cut them and place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag. If stacking layers, insert wax or parchment paper between them. These bars can be stored in the freezer for three to four months.
More Tasty No-Bake Desserts!
Full Recipe Instructions
Chewy Special K Bars
These Chewy Special K Bars are an ideal sweet snack, enriched with chocolate and peanut butter, making them both simple to prepare and incredibly delicious.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 452kcal
Notes
RECIPE TIPS:
- Utilize room temperature peanut butter– Keeping peanut butter at room temperature helps it blend with the sugars more effectively, avoiding clumps and preventing it from cooling the melted sugars.
- Select creamy emulsified peanut butter- Though natural peanut butter (that requires stirring) is acceptable, for this recipe, an emulsified type ensures a smoother mix with the sugars.
- Move quickly after incorporating the peanut butter into the cereal- As the sugars start to set, it’s essential to mix everything promptly and press it into the baking dish before it becomes too firm.
- Be patient while melting the chocolate- Careful melting of chocolate and butterscotch over low heat is crucial to avoid burning or seizing. Taking your time will lead to great results!
Nutrition
Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the article while keeping the information consistent:
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The nutritional content includes:
– **Sodium:** 282 mg
– **Potassium:** 250 mg
– **Fiber:** 3 g
– **Sugar:** 53 g
– **Vitamin A:** 313 IU
– **Vitamin C:** 3 mg
– **Calcium:** 23 mg
– **Iron:** 5 mg
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Each component provides essential nutrients beneficial for overall health.
