Creamy Peanut Butter Tart
This creamy peanut butter tart is easy peasy and absolutely fantastic. Your friends and family will think you are a rock star. Promise.
Just so you know, “tart” sounds fancy. But don’t be scared off.
You could easily make this into pie form but the details stay the same: buttery graham cracker crust topped with a sinfully decadent layer of chocolate and further enhanced with the creamiest, dreamiest peanut butter pudding concoction I’ve ever laid my lips on.
I never knew a peanut butter filling could be this smooth. Unbelievable.
This tart is undeniably rich and luscious and wait…did I mention it was no-bake? Oh yes it is. I know I just posted another peanut butter/chocolate no-bake treat recently.
Consider this tart the snobby, rich cousin of the no-bake peanut butter bars (with the same minimal fuss and prep). Easy peasy and absolutely fantastic. Not to mention the fact that this unassuming tart will completely wow your friends and family. They’ll think you are a rock star.
Promise.
One Year Ago: BBQ Macaroni Salad
Two Years Ago: Summer Garden Vegetable Soup
Three Years Ago: Foil Packet Chicken with Peas and Carrots
Creamy Peanut Butter Tart
Ingredients
- 9-10 rectangle graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs (about 1 sleeve of graham crackers)
- 6 tablespoons (85 g) butter, melted
- ½ cup (85 g) milk or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream, divided
- ¾ cup (191 g) creamy peanut butter
- 4 ounces (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and the butter. Mix until combined. Place the crumbs in a 9- or 10-inch tart pan or pie plate. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate while proceeding with the recipe.
- Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 cup cream in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until simmering. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and set aside (without stirring) for 3-5 minutes. Whisk until combined and glossy smooth. Cool the ganache to room temperature by whisking quickly for a few minutes. Spread the ganache over the bottom of the prepared crust and refrigerate until set, about 10-20 minutes.
- In a blender, food processor, or with a handheld mixer, combine the peanut butter, cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Blend until smooth. Add the remaining 1 cup heavy cream and process until the mixture is light and fluffy (1-2 minutes). Spoon the mixture over the top of the set ganache layer and smooth to the edges. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, remove the tart from the pan (if using a pie pan, obviously skip this step), cut the tart into slices and serve.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from Martha Stewart Annual Recipes 2002
58 Comments on “Creamy Peanut Butter Tart”
I was not a fan of this tart. The filling was just another soft, peanut butter filling. Nothing special. Make one of Mel’s cheesecakes instead. Thanks for all the help in the kitchen Mel!
Hi, do you have any idea how many ounces or grams of graham cracker crumbs to use? I bought a bag of the crumbs already crushed and am wondering how much the equivalent of 9-10 square would be? Thanks so much! Love your recipes 🙂
Probably about 5-7 ounces.
These was super yummy, with one caveat. The ganache, as written, did not set. I checked it at 20 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours and it still had the consistency of soft set pudding.
So I looked back to my favorite Mel ganache recipe (the one for the no-bake peanut butter bars) and I found the ratio from chocolate to cream was different. For the never-failed ganache, it’s 3 oz cream to 4 oz chocolate (which sets beautifully with the perfect shine), but the ratio for the tart recipe is 4 oz cream to 3 oz chocolate.
After some culinary searching, I found that ganache ratios vary on what consistency you want. The 4/3 ratio in this recipe is in between a pourable and a thick glaze, while the 3/4 ratio from the bar recipe is in between a thick glaze and what you use for chocolate truffles.
So for my second go at this recipe, I did the 3/4 ratio ganache (and followed those instructions, doing the microwaving in 30 second intervals, for a total of 1 1/2 minutes) and it was perfect! I also topped it with crushed peanuts because I love varying textures.
Oh yes, I used a stand mixer with the whisk attachment for the peanut butter mixture and it worked fantastically well!
For baking I used my 9″ springform pan and that was perfect 🙂
Hi Mel, I’m excited to use this recipe for my husband’s birthday dessert. Right now it’s chilling in the fridge. 🙂
I just wanted to add that if anyone was thinking to make this in their Vitamix, I don’t recommend it. My gut was telling me “don’t do it, there’s not enough liquid in there”, but I tried anyway, and my Vitamix wasn’t too happy. It wasn’t able to process it, and the motor started stinking. Oops! I then transferred it to my food processor, and it processed it like a dream! Hopefully this tip can help someone!
I’m a huge fan of dark chocolate- would it work to substitute it for the milk or semisweet chocolate chips?
Abby Perkins – Yep, that should work great.
Can I make this in a springform pan?
Jan – Sure, I think that would work.
wow ! soooo going to make this tomorrow 🙂
PS – This is what ya’ll can do with the remaining condensed milk -http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/ONE-STEP-NO-CHURN-COFFEE-ICE-CREAM-5550 Nigella is amazing and ^ this is beyond amazing.
I made this to accompany the bittersweet chocolate pie (http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/04/bittersweet-chocolate-pie.html) for a Sunday dinner with friends. Based on what I licked off the spatula, it will be delicious!
Oh Mel, this pie is AMAZING!!!! My oldest boy said it’s a must for our Thanksgiving Pie roster this weekend. Can’t wait to make it again, cause there are no leftovers!!!
Peanut butter, chocolate, graham cracker crust, fantasticlly yummy, suddenly moving from one state to the next, UH OH, FREAK OUT TIME. Best wishes in your new home and the new job. 🙂
This was amazing. My husband ate half the pie – he said he was doing me a favor!
I made this a few days ago and it was a hit.
I am just reading this about your move, and I wish you all the best with it! I would be TOTALLY freaking out, too! Just keep breathing, and make sure your chocolate stash doesn’t get packed! 😉
The peanut butter pie looks so delicious!
That filling looks absolutely blissful! I need some of this tart in my life!
silky smooth and just the right amount of peanut butter–nice! best of luck with your transition!
I made this tonight for a dinner party to rave reviews! Even the self-proclaimed “foodie” who “doesn’t have a sweet tooth” couldn’t resist! This recipe is a keeper. Thank you for sharing.
This looks amazing – love the filling, it looks so creamy and delicious!
What an exciting and scary time for you and your family! I hope the move goes successfully – with bites of this tart, I’m sure it’ll help calm the nerves =)
You have officially moved to superwoman status! Too bad your online “buddies” can’t come over and help you like good neighbors would! People from MN love it…I hope you guys will too!
I hail from Minnesota! Although, my husband and I are in the process of moving to Des Moines, Iowa for work. Moving is a stressful time! Best of luck to you – MN is great!
Good luck with your move. I hope you like cold winters! My husband is a retired Marine and we moved every 3 years for almost 24 years. Hope it all goes well and I wish you safe travels and hope that nothing is lost in the move. This recipe looks wonderful and I don’t even like peanut butter.
This looks divine! Can’t wait for an excuse to try it. Good luck with your move!! Wow!! Three weeks to pack up move states? With a baby? and 4 other kids? Wow! You are superwoman! I wish your family the best and hope you settle in quick in Minnesota!
Congrats! Where are you moving in MN?
I’m a Minnesota transplant, and I love it! A great place for families and for people who love food! Amazing restaurants all over the state and so many fun places to visit! Good luck with the move!
Rochester by chance? That’s where we are and we love it! Minnesota is great! If you need anything you can contact a complete stranger… me. {funny because we are moving to Wisconsin in 2 years}
I just tried this today–I think I have a new favorite dessert!!! It’s FABULOUS!
yum yum yum!! This looks great Mel. And good luck on the move – I can only imagine how stressful it is.
Good luck with the move!!!
This just looks pure awesome!
Charlotte – good question on the sweetened condensed milk. I saved the rest in the fridge and used it when I made this the 2nd time.
holy cow, this looks incredible. we have a church function coming up and this looks like the perfect thing to take!
Best of luck moving! I have 4 kids and we have moved after the birth of 3 of them–like when they were less than a month old, so I know moving with a little one is not easy–bless you and hope all goes well. This looks so good! We love your other chocolate peanut butter bars, so this will be even better!
Oh my gosh! So delicious looking!
Good luck with the move. At least your kids will get to start school in their new home. I hope you are getting a great new kitchen with the move– you deserve it!
Yum, this looks amazing! I bet it just melts in your mouth!
My husband LOVED the no bake peanut butter chocolate bars…he called them decadent. I’m sure its ritzy cousin will be just as divine. Minnesota is our next door neighbor, a fantastic place to raise a family. Once you get there you will love it!
Good luck with the move! I loved Minnesota for the one summer I lived there. I also love your blog and my mouth is watering every time I come here.
Goodness, Mel – may the next few weeks go as smoothly as possible! What a whirlwind for you and your family. I hope you love your new place! One thing is for sure – your new neighbors will love you! They have no idea how delicious their lives are about to become!
Good luck with the move. Change can be good. And thanks for sharing this recipe. It looks amazing.
Erin – ekcantcook.blogspot.com
Haha! I love how you refer to your husband’s job change and move to a new state in three weeks a ‘minor’ announcement! Good luck with the move and this change for your family. And I think peanut butter and chocolate is always a tasty way to deal/avoid stressful situations! This recipe reminds me of one I make but I make it in pie for and use a chocolate wafer crust.
Welcome to Minnesota! We are thrilled to have you:) You may have to become a Vikings fan now, however;)
The tart looks spectacular – thank you!
I am going home and making this tonight! Looks amazing! Good luck with the move, change can be scary but a life that is changing is a life moving forward!
As always, LOVE the blog and all of your yummy, wonderful recipes!!!
I love your recipes and visit your site often! I sympathize with the whole quick move, been there done that a few times. Once it was with a 2 year old and 5 month old twins. Seemed impossible at the time but the Lord worked out all the details! 🙂 Praying the same for your family. Blessings to you all.
Good luck on with the move! Minnesota is pretty wonderful. There are lots of things for families to do and the people here make good neighbors. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.
I made something similar that I found in a Kraft Food & Family, and it was such a hit that I made it 3 times in 1 week. But that was mostly so I could keep eating it…
I wish I had these types of ingredients on hand all the time but I don’t. I may have to go revise my shopping list for next week though because this just looks too good to pass up.
Much luck to you all in the move. An adventure, for sure. If we win the Lottery tonight I plan on moving too but the husband and dogs don’t know it yet!
Wow, that is a fast move! Good luck with everything!
This pie looks wonderful! I could use a couple of pieces to get me through the day!
Congratulations on the move! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and your family. I was in Wisconsin in March and really love it there. Best to you!
Wow – lots happening. Congratulations to your hubby and the new job. Try not to stress – think of the move as an adventure! 🙂 Let the kids help – even little ones want to feel needed and productive.
Thanks for your posts – I love to read them with my morning coffee and plan our meals around them quite often! 🙂
Good luck – and sending hugs!
Sorry,(for the last comment) my two year old was helping me type. I was going to say, it sounds like an exciting time for your family.
What in the world do you do with the rest of the condensed milk? It looks very creamy.
Good luck with the move! Sounds like an exciting time froThanks for all of the yummy recipes.
Congrats on the hubby’s new job. In today’s market having employment is such a blessing.
oh my gosh! this looks divine! will be making this weekend. good luck with your move!