Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars are a simple, no-bake dessert featuring an extra-thick layer of sweet peanut butter, topped with rich milk chocolate.

What do you make when you don’t want to mess with the oven but still want a sweet dessert that tastes like peanut butter cups? You prepare no-bake peanut butter bars, of course! Everyone—from the peanut butter lover to the chocolate fanatic—will enjoy them. 

You can’t get much easier than this when it comes to no-bake desserts! These peanut butter chocolate bars have just five simple ingredients. The bottom layer is a creamy peanut butter base, and the top of the bars is covered in a rich chocolate layer. Together, they taste just like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• No-Bake Recipe. You don’t have to use the stove. Create the layers and place them in the refrigerator. 
• Peanut Butter Flavor. The flavor is pronounced and sweet enough to be a perfect dessert. 
• Budget-friendly. There are just five ingredients. 
• Freezer-friendly. This is the perfect dessert to prepare ahead and store in the freezer for later use. 
• Easy Recipe. Beginning cooks and kids can make this recipe. 
• Nostalgic Recipe. This treat will take you down memory lane. It reminds me of high school, when I would eat lunch lady peanut butter bars for school lunch. 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

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Here are the simple ingredients to make this peanut butter bar recipe. 

• Salted butter – Use melted butter; if you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt. 
• Powdered sugar – This sweetens the bars while making the peanut butter layer extra creamy. 
• Creamy peanut butter – This type of peanut butter gives it a velvety-smooth texture. 
• Graham cracker crumbs – This sweetness adds a deeper flavor to the peanut butter. 
• Milk chocolate chips – This is the only ingredient in the chocolate layer. 

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars

• Step One: Mix butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and graham cracker crumbs together in a large bowl.
• Step Two: Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and grease it with cooking spray.
• Step Three: Press the bar mixture into the pan.

• Step Four: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave.
• Step Five: Spread the melted chocolate over the mixture in the pan and refrigerate until firm.

• Step Six: Cut into bars, serve, and enjoy!

What to Serve with Them

• No-Churn Maple Pecan Ice Cream
• Reese Ice Cream
• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• Red Velvet Hot Chocolate

Variations and Substitutions

• If you want to make your peanut butter bars even saltier, top them with salted peanuts, pistachios, or a few crumbled pretzels for crunch.
• If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, these bars are just as delicious with almond or cashew butter.
• If you don’t have graham crackers (or don’t like them!), substitute them with Oreos, Cheerios, Biscoff, digestives, or even crumbled chocolate chip cookies!
• If you want your chocolate layer to be less sweet, use semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate!
• If you want to bulk these bars up, a heap of chocolate or unflavored protein powder can work wonders. If they’re slightly too thick, add a dash of milk to the mix before setting.
• For a fun take on this classic recipe, top your bars with Reese’s cups, M&Ms, or chopped nuts!
• Make peanut butter balls. Roll the peanut butter layer into balls and dip them into the chocolate. Another name for them is peanut butter buckeyes. 

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• When making these peanut butter bars, try to use emulsified peanut butter. Although natural peanut butter is amazing, it may not be sweet enough and won’t mix as well because it has an oily base.
• Use a baking pan that allows your bars to have a decent thickness.
• You can use an electric mixer if you prefer, but a hand whisk is also an effective option to ensure there are no lumps in your peanut butter mixture.
• If you need help melting your chocolate, use the stovetop and a pan of boiling water.
• If you’re planning to serve the bars quickly, make sure you let them sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This makes them easier to cut and won’t create a gooey mess.
• When cutting your dessert, use a very sharp or serrated knife to prevent the bars from breaking apart or crumbling.
• When adding your graham cracker crumbs, try to add them a bit at a time. This will lead to a smoother and more combined base.
• If you’re planning to make these bars ahead, don’t forget to account for the time they’ll need to set in the fridge!
• Don’t overheat the chocolate. Make sure it’s just melted to avoid burnt chocolate!

Storage Instructions

These bars store well when they’re kept in an airtight container in the fridge. 

Just make sure they’re completely cool before storing them.

When you’re ready to eat your bars, you can eat them straight out of the fridge or leave them to warm up slightly on the counter.

Can I Freeze?

Yup – you can freeze these peanut butter bars!

They stay delicious for up to 2 or 3 months when stored in Ziplock bags or wrapped in parchment paper.

I recommend slicing and freezing them separately for easy defrosting, but you can freeze the whole pan if you want!

Can I Make Ahead? 

This is my favorite treat for big events because I can make it up to three days ahead. I keep them in the baking dish or wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator until I’m ready to serve them. 

Best Peanut Butter To Use 

When making these peanut butter bars, you should use emulsified peanut butter. Although natural peanut butter is amazing, it may not be sweet enough and won’t mix as well because it has an oily base. You can use crunchy peanut butter if you don’t mind the bits of mixed peanuts. 

Can I Use Dark Chocolate? 

Yes, this delicious treat will taste even better if you use dark chocolate chips or a dark chocolate bar instead of milk chocolate chips. 

Can I Use Brown Sugar as a Substitute for Powdered Sugar? 

No, I don’t recommend using brown sugar. Powdered sugar enhances the texture of the peanut butter. 

Dessert Recipes

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
• Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownies
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
• Pecan Pie Balls
• Chocolate Confetti Bars
• Peanut Butter Pie
• Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
• Butter Tart Squares
• Mud Hen Bars
• Chewy Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
• Marshmallow Bars
• Butterscotch Blondies
• Lemon Bars
• Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

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