No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Think of these no-bake peanut butter chocolate bars as a life-sized Reese’s peanut butter cup. Only in bar form. And 100 times better!
Dude, I don’t know about you but in the warm summer months I nearly weep at the thought of turning on my oven and heating up the kitchen and house…even with the A/C running.
But here’s the deal, I can’t live without my sweets. I just can’t. And I can only dip my paws into the industrial-sized bag of Ghirardelli Bittersweet chips to fill my cravings so many times before I need something a bit more…well…homemade.
Which is why these decadent no-bake (no-bake!) bars are perfect for summer time. And perfect for sweet-eaters like myself. Think of them as a life-sized Reese’s peanut butter cup. Only in bar form. And only 100 times better.
Not healthy. Oh no. But tremendously delicious.
Thanks to them being no-bake, I didn’t shed tears about oven usage. The only tears spotting my cheeks were tears of immense and utter joy. Peanut butter and chocolate do that to me, what can I say.
One Year Ago: The Best Oven-Baked Ribs
Two Years Ago: Grilled Chicken Fajita Fettuccine
Three Years Ago: Simple and Meaty Skillet Lasagna
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups (200 g) graham cracker crumbs
- 10 tablespoons (140 g) butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Peanut Butter Filling:
- 1 cup (255 g) creamy peanut butter
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter, softened
- 1 cup (114 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Chocolate Topping:
- 4 ounces (113 g) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
- ⅜ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Stir until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of an 8X8-inch or 9X9-inch baking pan.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a bowl using a handheld mixer, mix the peanut butter, softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until the mixture is completely combined and is smooth. Spread over the crumb mixture, smoothing the top with an offset or rubber spatula. Chill the bars for at least an hour, until the filling is set.
- Heat the chocolate and cream in a medium microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter filling and evenly spread with an offset spatula. Chill the bars for at least an hour, until the chocolate topping is set. Run a knife under hot water and wipe clean. Slice the bars with the warm knife. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas
Thank you for this recipe. It is awesome as is. But if you sub cookie dough (from your ice cream sandwich recipe) for the graham cracker crust, it is out of this world!
These are so good! I make them in a 9×13 pan, and to do so I make 1 1/2 times the crust and double the peanut butter and chocolate layers. I also line the pan with parchment overhanging the sides so I can pull it out to slice it. Love these. Thanks for the recipe!
Is there a milk chocolate version? I am just not a dark chocolate person.
Gina Brosell – You could definitely try using milk chocolate chips instead of semisweet.
I’m running low on butter, do you think coconut oil would work in this recipe?
meghan – Definitely worth a try!
I used just regular JIF peanut butter. Maybe I didn’t press down hard enough?
Noraa Singthe – It’s been a while since I made these but yes, maybe pressing down more could help.
I had the same trouble with the peanut butter part not sticking to the graham cracker crust. Thinking maybe the peanut butter part was a little dry due to packing the powdered sugar into the measuring cup. Bars are still delicious and tempting though. Or my other thought was that the crust crumbs were too fine.
I had that problem, too, but Costco natural PB. Probably the powdered sugar issue too. I just spread the PB mixture by hand, then smoothed it out with spatula. Worked fine, and finger-lickin’ good… 🙂
Hello,
I made these the other day and for some reason the peanut butter wasn’t sticking to the graham cracker crust. Do you know what causes this? They tasted great though.
Noraa Singthe – I am not sure what would have caused this? Did you use creamy peanut butter (or a natural peanut butter)?
Um, yeah. These are good. Very creamy. I used the Ghirardelli semisweet 4 oz chocolate bar. I found that one sleeve of regular sized low-fat graham crackers equaled about 2 cups of crumbs.
Thank you, this is the comment I came to the comment section for! 🙂
I made these as one of the Easter deserts I brought to my family celebration–huge hit!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the great recipe! These are simple easy and delicious <3
I just saw this on Pinterest – I made these around the same time as you – aren’t they delish!
My recipe is slightly different – you can check it out here: http://www.bakingmakesthingsbetter.com/2012/07/chocolate-peanut-butter-slice.html
Love your photos!
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you for posting a yummy no-bake dessert! I absolutely have refused to turn the oven on this summer (hasn’t been on since mid-June!) and was desperate to find more no-bake yumminess to finish of all those bbq’d meals. One can only make no-bake cookies so many times before becoming in need of something new. Thanks again!
Made these yesterday and they are so good!! The pan is almost gone already! 🙁
Thanks!!
These remind me of something I made as a kid! And I agree peanut butter and chocolate (and not turning on the oven in the summer) are things I can really sink my teeth into!
These bars were a cinch to put together, and they perfectly satisfied my sweet tooth. Thanks for another great one, Mel!
These look amazing! I’m familiar with a recipe similar to this, but it doesn’t have the crust. I love the addition of the crust and can’t wait to try this!
Mel,
I made these and the key lime bars for a party last week. They both tasted scrumptious and were gobbled up by all!! Thank you so much for your inspiration. Off to try the chocolate toffee bark for tomorrow’s dessert.
i’m such a sucker for layered desserts. these are supremely made and cut, mel! 🙂
Made today and family LOVED. Consensus was that it tastes just like the famous ‘Peanut Butter Bar’ from Purdy’s Chocolates here in Canada (v.v high praise!)
Jen – nope, it’s really 3/8 of a cup. The easiest way to measure it is 1/4 of a cup plus 2 tablespoons (it is just shy of 1/2 cup).
This is the perfect summer treat! My mom used to make these for the 4th of July every year – thanks for the recipe, I have lost mine along the way, and your version sounds so good!!
I just bought the boxed Reese’s version of this because I didn’t want to spend the time figuring out a homemade version. I should have just waited three days for you to magically post exactly what I was hoping for!! Thank you!
The only difference in the boxed version is a chocolate crust. I bet this recipe would be delicious with chocolate grahams or Oreos in the crust instead!
No bake treats to keep the tummy happy and the kitchen cool!? Count me in. Can’t wait to make some of these with my kids.
Just wondering about the 3/8 cup heavy cream? Is it supposed to be 3/4 cup?
Heavy cream 75-80g (3/8 cup) in case anyone wanted the weight.
Thanks for the great recipe!
PB, chocolate & heavy cream……I’m all in! Can’t wait to try these yummies. Gonna have to wait til I’m headed somewhere to share. I can already sense my self control slipping 🙂
I am right there with you in the heat. It has been so amazingly hot and dry–we need rain! Anyway, these will be wonderful for the kids to make inside since it is way too hot to do anything outside. Yummy! Thanks!
I, too, am envious of that industrial sized bag of chocolate chips – funny, the things that stop us short! We have been toying with temps in the nineties but it does cool down at night and I haven’t stopped baking as long as the a.c. has been on – I need my sweet fix, of course. Love all the comments here from the diehard fans of p.b. and chocolate. I am going to make these soon, yum and thanks.
soooooo jeaous of you all having a lovely summer. You know it hasn’t stopped raining here in the UK like….forever!!!
I may just turn my oven on when making thse scrummy little morsels – just t heat up the kitchen!
My sister-in-law just gave me a similar recipe only even easier. You mix the crushed graham crackers right in with the peanut butter layer and skip the whole crust thing. And then you just melt roughly a cup of chocolate chips for the top. SUPER good! Every time I eat them, my baby just goes nuts in utero. I think I’m going to have a pb/chocolate lover on my hands!
Oh Mel, I forgot how much I love these…
Tip of the century, as I LOVE LOVE LOVE chocolate and peanut butter…use peanut butter in the crust, in place of butter and sprinkly mini reese’s cups on top of the chocolate for extra yumminess!
This recipe looks so easy and delish! Great to make with the kids. 🙂
My husband and I thank you! I whipped these up this afternoon and they are fabulous! I had my third bundle of joy two weeks ago (3rd boy! 🙂 and all during my pregnancy I couldn’t get enough PB and chocolate and so far those cravings have not stopped so thanks for helping me satisfy this tasty craving! I had a pre-made graham cracker crust that needed to be used so I put the peanut butter-liciousness in that with melted milk chocolate chips on top. I wanted to make a treat for a friend who has completely spoiled me with help since the little one arrived so I cut the pie in slices and wrapped them individually for her toss in the freezer. Now when she has a sweet craving she can pull out an individual slice to enjoy!
I also made your chicken gyros last night and they were a hit! LOVE that soft wrap bread!!!
My friend introduced me to these in college, they’re dangerously easy!!
Please tell me where I can get an industrial-sized bag of Ghirardelli Bittersweet chips! It may or may not be a wise addition to my pantry.
The heat in the US sounds terrible. It’s pretty cool over here in Germany (about 50 degrees yesterday) but it has been raining almost every day. And I mean every day. Since the beginning of spring. It’s insane.
Anyway, these look and sound amazing! Peanut butter and chocolate can never be wrong. I’ve never made peanut butter bars with a crust. Yummy. 🙂
YUM, all my favorites rolled into one bar cookie. thanks Mel!
Had to comment, we were at the store today and my 2 year old son saw the boxed version of this and wanted to get it. The fact that it was boxed, along with the $4+ dollar cost made me say no. So I hope on your site for some dinner ideas, and see this is your post for the day. I think I’m meant to make them very soon.
I’m making these right now and am having a hard time waiting the hour for the chocolate to chill. I’m thinking I’ll have to dive right in NOW! yummmmmmmmm……..
This recipe looks fantastic! I love a chocolate/peanut butter combo. I am so happy I came across your blog. Great recipes and great photos! Can’t wait to subscribe and see what you come up with next!
Would love for you to stop by my blog sometime! New blog friends are the best 🙂
Christie N – not according to me (I think a true ganache needs the heavy cream) but feel free to substitute as you like…maybe evaporated milk or half-and-half?
These look yummy! Is there a subsitute for the heavy cream?
Love when I don’t have to turn my oven on for a dessert!!!
Oh. My. This looks awesome!!! Now I have to go get chocolate chips and graham crackers . . .
Oh yum!!! I want to make these!
We’ve been having record heat in Wisconsin lately. I need to run a fan with my A/C just to keep the house cooled! The thought of turning on the oven terrifies me. I’m hoping the heat breaks before next weekend when I have to bake a couple cakes…
These look beautiful! Reese’s can’t compete, especially the ganache topping!
OMG these sound delicious! I have been craving something peanut buttery and chocolate for a while now–and a little piece of chocolate candy never does the trick. I hope this does!
Love the combination and love the fact that I don’t have to heat up my house making these little pieces of heaven!
This looks amazing!!! Love anything peanut butter and chocolate 😀
This is one of my all time favorite no-bake desserts! Love chocolate and peanut butter!!
This is one of my favorite treats!
And thank you for the comment on my brownies! You are so kind 🙂
I completely agree with you about turning the oven on during the heat of the summer! It was 100 degrees here yesterday and is going to be 100 degrees again today- no ovens on in my house! These pb bars look so delicious, Mel! I love Reeses PB Cups, so I know I will love these (my family will, too)!