Special K Bars | via printmyemotions.com

I’m fairly sure the Internet doesn’t really need another post with the world-famous Special K Bars recipe. I mean, seriously. We could all search a thousand recipe posts on Pinterest for these sinful delights. But I’m defying the blogging gods and posting this anyway because these bars are just too powerful. 🙂

I made this classic Special K Bars recipe last Friday night and, as it always does, it brought back memories of my mother-in-law, Mary, who passed away in 2013. I can’t quite remember when it started, but at some point, years ago, Mary made Special K bars when Teacher Man and I visited her and my father-in-law. I raved because, of course, I looooove these bars and could easily eat half the pan if left to my own devices.

Since that first initial pan, my mother-in-law would make these bars for me every time we came to visit. I know. I was so lucky! (The only potential downside being I had to fight with my father-in-law and Teacher Man over who got to eat the most rows. Have you ever seen those boys cut into a pan of these bars? Experts, I tell you!)

When I posted this memory last weekend along with a photo of my Special K bars on Facebook, I received quite a few comments from people who had their own Special K bar stories.

  • One friend said his mom used to make them at the family’s lake home and he doesn’t remember a pan lasting more than hour. (Yep, sounds about right.)
  • Another wrote that Special K bars are her Relay for Life team’s claim to fame and they’ve sold thousands of bars over the years for a good cause. (Now that’s awesome!)
  • Still another likes to make the case that Special K bars qualify as a breakfast food – it is cereal, after all, with a good dose of protein from the peanut butter. (Agreed!)
  • And several friends told me Special K bars were their mother-in-law’s favorite, too. (See – the power of the Special K bar!)

I kind of got a little veklempt at all these delightful stories about our connections to Special K bars and the family members we love. I will always have wonderful memories of my mother-in-law – her kind heart, her love of good stories and her completely infectious laugh.

And we’ll always share our love of Special K bars.

Joe and his Grandparents | via printmyemotions.com

My favorite picture of my in-laws at our house with Joe to celebrate his 9th birthday in January of 2013.

Can I refrigerate Special K Bars?

Sure thing! That’s how Teacher Man loves these bars best. I personally prefer them at room temperature but it’s totally your call.

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Special K Bars | via printmyemotions.com

Special K Bars

The world famous recipe for Special K Bars, a perennial favorite for pretty everyone I know!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bars
Calories 226 kcal

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • saute pan
  • 4-cup glass measuring cup
  • 9×13 pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Corn Syrup
  • 1 cup Peanut Butter
  • 6 cups Kellogg's Special K Cereal
  • 6 ounces Chocolate Chips
  • 6 ounces Butterscotch Chips

Instructions
 

  • Combine the sugar and corn syrup in a pan over medium heat, stirring often. Bring to a boil and immediately take off the heat.
  • Stir in the peanut butter. Add this mixture to the Special K cereal and mix thoroughly.
  • Pour mixture into a 9 x 13 pan and press down on the mixture.
  • Combine the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for about 30 seconds, stir, and microwave for another 25-30 seconds and stir until mixture is completely melted. Do not over-microwave; chocolate mixture can burn. (You can also do this step in a pan over low heat on the stove.)
  • Pour chocolate mixture over the Special K bars in the pan and smooth with knife.
  • Let set for at least 15 minutes and then enjoy!

Notes

  • If you are like Teacher Man, you probably like your Special K bars refrigerated; he feels they are best when cold.
  • If you’re like me, you like them at room temperature. There is no right or wrong answer. In our house, I cut a few bars to store in the fridge for Teacher Man and leave the rest on the counter.
  • if you like more chocolate, use 1 (12 ounces) bag EACH of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. It’s what I would suggest – wink, wink.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 36.4gProtein: 5gFat: 7.9gSaturated Fat: 2.8gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 139mgPotassium: 112mgCalcium: 16mg
Keyword dessert bars, no-bake bars, no-bake dessert, no-bake recipe, Special K Bars
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

4 Comments on For the Love of Special K Bars

  1. I always make a 1 and 1/2 size recipe- thicker bars. I also keep them super sticky by not adding quite so much cereal. My favorite bar in the world!!

  2. My aunt to make them every xmas but Bring the sugar and syrup to a boil they seem to be softer and not as hard always put mine in fridge

    • My husband loves to put these in the fridge too! And I totally agree – definitely bring the sugar and syrup to a boil. Thanks for sharing!

      Lara

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