These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars only require 5 simple ingredients and can be prepared in about 10 minutes. The perfect easy dessert for chocolate and peanut butter lovers!
Happy Thursday, friends! It’s been a little quiet on the blog the last couple weeks, but I promise there’s a good reason. If you’ve been by my site lately you may have noticed that it got a much-needed redesign. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can hop on over to the homepage to check it out!
Also new on the blog today are these delicious no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars. If you’ve never tried them before then you are in for a real treat! The taste of these bars kind of reminds me of a Reese’s peanut butter cup and they’re incredibly simple to throw together.
You only need 5 ingredients to make these bars (that’s including the peanut butter and chocolate, obviously) and they only take about 10 minutes to prep. The best part? You don’t even have to turn your oven on the make them!
To make these peanut butter bars, you’ll start out by making the peanut butter layer which is just a simple mixture of melted butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and graham cracker crumbs.
It helps to whisk together the melted butter and peanut butter first, then whisk in the powdered sugar, and then the graham cracker crumbs. The mixture will seem a little soft, but it will firm up and slice easily once it’s refrigerated for about an hour and a half.
Also, I know that graham cracker crumbs are not readily available in other countries so a good alternative would be digestive biscuits or something similar.
Once you mix up the peanut butter mixture, you’ll press it into a 9×13 pan and make the chocolate topping.
The chocolate topping is just a simple mixture of chocolate chips and some more peanut butter. You’ll need 2 cups of chocolate chips for the topping, which is equal to one 12-ounce bag. The peanut butter is also necessary for the topping because it helps keep the chocolate layer a little softer, so you can easily slice into these bars.
Once the mixture is melted and smooth, just pour it on top of the peanut butter layer and spread it around.
Then, just cover the bars and let them chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour and a half so that they have enough time to firm up.
Or, you can just prep these the night before and take them out of the refrigerator when you’re ready to serve them.
Baking Tips for No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- It’s best to line your pan with foil or parchment paper before getting started. This will make it much easier to lift the bars out of the pan and slice them!
- When adding the graham cracker crumbs, make sure to only mix in 1 cup at a time. It will seem like quite a bit, but the mixture will come together just fine.
- You may also cut this recipe in half and use an 8×8 pan. The chilling time for the bars will remain the same.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
For the peanut butter layer:
- 1 cup (230 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup (250 grams) creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 cups (240 grams) graham cracker crumbs
For the chocolate topping:
- 1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup (65 grams) creamy peanut butter
Instructions
To make the peanut butter layer:
- Line a 9x13 baking pan with foil or parchment paper, making sure to leave some overhang for easy removal, and set aside.
- Combine the melted butter and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and continue mixing until fully combined. Then, add the graham cracker crumbs, 1 cup at a time, and mix until fully combined.
- Scoop the peanut butter mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down into one even layer. Set aside.
To make the chocolate topping:
- Add the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-30 increments, stirring well after each increment, until completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture on top of the peanut butter layer and spread it around into one even layer.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 and 1/2 hours or until the bars are firm and the chocolate topping is set. Once the bars are firm, lift them out of the pan using the overhang from the foil or parchment paper, slice, and enjoy!
Susan says
August 2, 2018 at 1:05 pmCan you use Adam’s Peanut Butter or something similar – only peanuts with oil separation that you stir in. Is this enough “grease” to replace the butter?
Danielle says
August 2, 2018 at 2:58 pmHi, Susan! I wouldn’t suggest it for this recipe, the bars would likely be too greasy and not hold together very well.
Lori Serrano says
August 2, 2018 at 5:11 pmThanks so much for this easy no-bake summer treat, Danielle! Baking is my absolute favorite thing to do (along with learning to speak Spanish and play the guitar)! Since it gets in triple digits during summer where I live, I really need recipes that don’t require an oven. Also I often bake for coffee hour at my church, and for the senior citizen folks, so you have been an absolute gem with your great ideas!
Plus, your blog is so entertaining to follow! Also, want to say the newly-remodeled e-mail newsletter is a joy to use (keep those helpful tips of yours coming!).
Finally, please keep me updated with any new cookbooks you write. with delicious gratitude,
Lori
Danielle says
August 3, 2018 at 9:35 amIt gets in the triple digits here sometimes too, so I definitely know how you feel! I’m glad you’re enjoying the newsletter and my site too, Lori. 🙂
Nancy Bulmer says
August 2, 2018 at 8:19 pmThese are delicious. To make them killer-good add 2 cups mini chocolate chips to the filling.
Danielle says
August 3, 2018 at 9:35 amLove that idea, Nancy! I’m trying that next time I make a batch!
Linda P. says
August 4, 2018 at 12:18 pmcould I use another sweetener instead of 10x sugar? Maybe powdered organic stevia? I make everything using all organic. I will even use organic graham crackers and organic p.b. and butter in mine. And organic chocolate! Maybe I can use organic brown rice syrup?
Danielle says
August 4, 2018 at 3:10 pmI’m not familiar with the powdered stevia. If it measures cup for cup liked powdered sugar it may work fine. I wouldn’t suggest the brown rice syrup though, I’m not sure that they will set up properly.
Bobbie McCord says
August 5, 2018 at 9:27 amHi Danielle,
Any suggestions for cutting down on the sweetness? Would these set up with half the sugar?
Danielle says
August 5, 2018 at 1:11 pmI haven’t tried cutting down the powdered sugar that much yet, so I’m not 100% sure. They may be okay as long as you keep them refrigerated and don’t leave them at room temperature for too long. But the powdered sugar does help to make the bars firmer (as well as sweeten them) 🙂
Dayle says
December 11, 2018 at 9:37 pmI am vegan. Can I use margarine? plus with maybe a little refined coconut oil? I am making these tomorrow, one way or another!
Danielle says
December 12, 2018 at 1:28 pmI think margarine would be fine!
Sara says
January 6, 2019 at 7:57 pmThese bars are simply delicious! I found myself cutting out little bits sized pieces and making it into a small, quick treat for myself. I will be making these again….like tomorrow! Thank you!
Danielle says
January 7, 2019 at 7:51 amSo glad you liked the bars, Sara!
Ana says
January 23, 2019 at 11:23 pmI forgot to melt the butter and the whole thing is in the fridge right now
Will it make a very big day difference to the bars?
Danielle says
January 24, 2019 at 5:59 pmMelting the butter makes it easier to incorporate the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. As long as you were able to get them mixed with the butter, I think they will be okay.
Des says
February 11, 2019 at 11:24 pmWould it work out if I made a bottom layer as well as the top layer ?
Danielle says
February 12, 2019 at 9:59 amYes, that would be fine. I would use the same amount of chocolate chips and peanut butter for a bottom layer of chocolate and make sure to refrigerate it until it’s firm before adding the peanut butter layer and top chocolate layer.
Pam says
February 25, 2019 at 8:32 pmWondering if these bars hold up well at room temperature? Needing something I can plate and leave out for 4-6 hours.
Danielle says
February 26, 2019 at 8:23 amThey’ll be fine at room temperature, but the peanut butter and chocolate layers will soften some if they sit out for that long.
Nicole Williams says
April 14, 2019 at 6:23 pmEasy and delicious! My kids loved it! Tastes like Butterfingers!