Cereal Scotcheroos {Chex + Cheerios}

Use cereal you have on hand and combine with this classic scotcheroo recipe (straight from my grnadma!). I used Chex and Cheerios for these favorite cereal scotcheroos.

Scotcheroos are one of those oldie but goodie recipes. My Grandma S. used to make them for just about every family function. She always called them “Special K” bars even though she just as often made them with Rice Krispies as Special K cereal. In my family when we get extended family together, dinner is never quite ready when you get there, but there are always a lot of snacks and appetizers to tide you over. Scotcheroos are something that if you don’t have one before dinner, there isn’t much of a chance there will be any left after dinner!

I make these once in a while for work or other potluck type gatherings and have always used Rice Krispies cereal. I had a bunch of Chex cereal left over from the holidays after making Chex Mix (also a big family favorite), so I whipped up a batch of Scotcheroos using corn Chex, rice Chex, and just to throw caution to the wind – Cheerios too.

Result: Scotcheroo goodness! You really can use about any cereal in this peanut butter, chocolate, butterscotch heaven, with great results.

I use my grandma’s recipe which is just slightly altered from the original Karo syrup recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 6 cups cereal (this time I used 5 cups corn and rice chex and 1 cup cheerios), Rice Krispies and Special K also work well.
• 1 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup butterscotch chips

(original recipe calls for 1 cup each of chocolate and butterscotch chips, I like mine a little less butterscotchy.)

Directions:

1. In a large pot, mix together corn syrup, sugar and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter melts. Bring edges of mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, and stir in cereal.
2. Transfer mixture into greased 9×13 pan. Press lightly into pan with the back of a spoon
3. Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over medium low heat until smooth. Spread over top of bars and let cool. Cut into squares.

I took these to work earlier this week, and they went fast! I’m not afraid to admit that I ate one for breakfast. They have cereal in them, so what’s there to justify?!