For those who like peanut butter cups, you will LOVE these no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars. They’re wealthy, decadent, and straightforward to make with 5 components!
It’s arduous to eat simply one in all these no-bake peanut butter bars. …Which is smart, as a result of they’re like a good higher model of a Reese’s peanut butter cup. A crisp chocolate layer tops a wealthy, fudgy peanut butter base. For those who’re something like me, you’ll end one sq. after which return to the pan for one more sliver…after which one other.
Apart from the truth that they’re scrumptious, I’ve been loving these chocolate peanut butter bars for a number of causes this summer time.
- They’re no-bake, so that you don’t need to warmth up the home as a way to make them.
- They’re SO straightforward. Simply 5 components!
- The recipe is tremendous kid-friendly! Our baby loves mixing collectively the peanut butter layer and urgent it into the pan.
Many related recipes for chocolate peanut butter bars say that you may’t make them with pure peanut butter, however I’m glad to report that this one comes out nice with it. I hope you like this straightforward no-bake deal with!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Elements
You simply want 5 components to make this peanut butter bars recipe:
- Graham cracker crumbs – They provide the peanut butter layer its construction and add yummy graham cracker taste. Use store-bought graham cracker crumbs or make your personal within the meals processor from about 8 full graham cracker sheets. Use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Powdered sugar – It sweetens the peanut butter layer and helps bind it collectively.
- Salted butter – For wealthy, buttery taste. Vegan butter works right here too!
- Creamy peanut butter – You’ll use some within the peanut butter layer and extra within the chocolate topping.
- And chocolate chips – I like to make use of darkish chocolate chips right here. For those who want sweeter chocolate, be at liberty to make use of semi-sweet chocolate chips as an alternative.
Discover the entire recipe with measurements beneath.
Finest Peanut Butter to Use
I like to make use of creamy pure peanut butter on this recipe.
Simply make it possible for it’s well-stirred and clean. The dry, stiff peanut butter that you simply typically discover on the backside of a jar received’t work right here. It must be runny to bind the peanut butter layer collectively.
The best way to Make Peanut Butter Bars
Step one on this recipe is making the peanut butter layer.
For those who aren’t utilizing store-bought graham cracker crumbs, make your personal. Break 8 graham cracker sheets into items and place them in a meals processor. Pulse till they break down into positive crumbs.
Measure 1 1/2 cups of the graham cracker crumbs and place them in a big bowl. Add the powdered sugar and stir to mix. Then, add the peanut butter and melted butter and blend till properly mixed.
Press the peanut butter combination into an 8×8-inch pan lined with parchment paper.
Subsequent, make the chocolate layer.
Mix the chocolate chips and a couple of tablespoons peanut butter in a microwave-safe medium bowl.
Soften the chocolate and peanut butter collectively by microwaving on excessive, stirring each 20 seconds.
When the chocolate combination is clean, pour it on high of the peanut butter layer and evenly unfold it over the bars. (An offset spatula is nice for this!)
Lastly, chill the peanut butter bars in a single day within the fridge, or till the chocolate is agency and the peanut butter layer is totally set.
Slice and revel in!
Recipe Ideas
- Don’t skimp on the chilling time. The chocolate will arrange after only a few hours, however the peanut butter layer wants 8 hours or extra to turn into utterly agency. Wanting on the chocolate layer, it may be tempting to slice the bars sooner. Whereas they’ll nonetheless style nice, they’ve the most effective, most cohesive texture after a full in a single day chill.
- Slice them with a big sharp knife. Because the chocolate units up, it turns into agency and snappy. It will possibly crack should you attempt to slice the bars with a too small or uninteresting knife. You’ll get probably the most even bars should you use a big sharp knife to chop them.
Storage
These no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars hold properly in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week.
Additionally they freeze properly for as much as 3 months. Switch them to the fridge to thaw in a single day.
Extra Peanut Butter Recipes
For those who love these chocolate peanut butter bars, strive one in all these yummy peanut butter recipes subsequent:
Peanut Butter Bars
Serves 16
These no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars style even higher than peanut butter cups! Made with simply 5 components, they’re a straightforward, scrumptious deal with.
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, 6 ounces, from about 8 full graham cracker sheets
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
- ½ cup salted butter, 1 stick, melted, plus extra for the pan
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter, plus 2 tablespoons for the chocolate layer
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
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Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
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In a big bowl, stir collectively the graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Add the melted butter and 1 cup peanut butter and blend till properly mixed.
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Use your palms to evenly press the peanut butter combination into the ready pan.
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In a medium microwave-safe bowl, mix the chocolate chips and the remaining 2 tablespoons peanut butter. Microwave on excessive, stirring each 20 seconds, till the combination is clean. Evenly unfold over the peanut butter layer.
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Refrigerate the bars in a single day, or till the chocolate is agency and the peanut butter layer is totally set. The chocolate will arrange sooner, however the peanut butter layer requires a full in a single day chill. Slice and serve.
To make these bars vegan, use vegan butter and dairy-free chocolate chips.
To make them gluten-free, use gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.
