No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
on Jul 01, 2020, Updated Jul 17, 2024
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Peanut butter cups, move over! These no-bake peanut butter bars have a decadent chocolate topping and the most delicious creamy peanut butter filling that will make all your sweet-tooth dreams come true. And they’re ridiculously easy.
If you love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, you need to make this seriously simple sweet treat, and stat!
Don’t you love a good no-bake dessert recipe? I do, especially in warmer months when I’d rather not turn on the oven but still want to serve something special for a treat! You should also try this No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie , or this No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls! And while I love fruity desserts during the summer, I also have a soft spot for anything chocolate-peanut butter. These no-bake peanut butter bars hit the spot and are like the even more delicious relative of peanut butter cups. (I know, bet you didn’t realize anything tastier than peanut butter cups existed!)
With a combination of finely crumbled graham crackers, melted peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar, the filling is a divine, thick, creamy, textured PB mixture. Finish the top with chocolate chips melted with just a little extra peanut butter for a rich and sweet dessert that you’ll be tempted to eat the whole pan of. It’s a crowd pleaser and such a simple recipe for you to throw together when you’re short on time! I can’t wait for you to nom on these tasty treats.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Ingredients:
Butter: You melt butter with the PB for an ultra-rich, creamy flavor. (And it helps the bars to not stick to the pan.)
Peanut butter: The star of the show! Peanut butter is the main ingredient and flavor in these, and it’s even infused into the chocolate topping.
Graham crackers: Finely crushed graham crackers add some texture and thickness to the peanut butter filling.
Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar is the secret ingredient to make these sweet like candy!
Vanilla: A little vanilla goes a long way to warm up the flavors and make them extra cozy.
Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips melted with a little PB act as the topping to the bars.
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Tips for Making the Best No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars:
You truly can’t mess these up, but here are a few pointers to remember when making them!
- Microwave the chocolate to melt: Do it in 30 second increments, stirring between, to melt it evenly without burning or having to dirty a pan.
- Don’t slice the bars until they’re set: The chocolate will be firm when they’re ready to cut. This takes about an hour, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
- Feel free to eat these cold: Ever had a cold cookie or candy bar? Sometimes it’s better than the room temp version, and these are no different! They taste great cold.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If the dish you use has a cover that fits it, feel free to just store the bars covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate them for 5 to 6 days. If your baking dish doesn’t have a cover, wrap the top tightly with plastic wrap or tin foil.
More Peanut Butter Recipes to Enjoy:
Peanut Butter Cookies
Hershey Kiss Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies
Dessert Recipes
Life-Changing Peanut Butter S’mores Bars
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups very fine graham crackers crumbs, (about 2 sleeves or 18 sheets of crackers)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by greasing it well with cooking spray or butter.
- In a medium saucepan, add the butter, and heat over medium heat until the butter is melted.
- When the butter is melted, add the peanut butter, and stir until the peanut butter melts and is fully combined.
- Remove from the heat, and add the graham crackers, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and stir to combine very well.
- Dump the graham cracker mixture into the prepared pan. Use a spatula or the bottom of a greased measuring cup to spread the mixture out very evenly even into the bottom of the pan.
- Place the chocolate chips and the 4 remaining tablespoons of peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 2 minutes total.
- Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the graham cracker mixture in the pan.
- Let the bars rest until the chocolate firms back up, about an hour, depending on your kitchen temperature.
- When the bars are set, slice and serve. Store extras covered at room temperature.
Notes
- These are just as good cold as they are at room temperature, just FYI!
Loved the ease and the taste but when the bars are cold the chocolate separates from the crust and even at room temp it tries.
Mine melted in two 30 second intervals.
What went wrong?
Hmmm, I haven’t heard of that one, it separates when you cut it?