No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
These No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars only require 5 simple ingredients and can be prepared in about 10 minutes. The perfect easy dessert for chocolate and peanut butter lovers!
Calling all peanut butter lovers! These bars are one of the easiest, most delicious no-bake desserts ever. They kind of remind me of a Reese’s peanut butter cup, but with a lot more texture and a much richer flavor.
Not convinced you need to make these yet? What if I told you these bars are also incredibly simple to throw together?
That’s right, you only need five ingredients to make these bars! Even better, they only take about 10 minutes to prep and you don’t have to turn on your oven to make them.
These no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars are always a hit at parties and potlucks, and I never go home with leftovers!
Ingredients in This Recipe
The ingredients list for these bars is short and sweet (pun intended). Here’s an overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter since the amount of salt in salted butter can vary between brands.
- Peanut Butter: Make sure to use a creamy, no-stir peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. The peanut butter layer may not set up very well with natural peanut butter.
- Powdered sugar: Helps sweeten the bars without giving them a grainy texture. The powdered sugar also helps the peanut butter layer set up in the fridge.
- Graham cracker crumbs: You’ll need 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs to make this recipe. You can either use store-bought graham cracker crumbs, or you can make your own by sealing graham crackers in a zip-top bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.
- Chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, which results in a rich chocolate layer that’s not too sweet. However, you’re welcome to use any chocolate chips you’d like.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
To make these peanut butter candy bars, you’ll start out by making the peanut butter layer. It’s 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 after the bars have chilled in the fridge.
Once you mix up the peanut butter mixture, you’ll press it into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Set it aside while you make the chocolate topping.
The chocolate topping is just a simple mixture of chocolate chips and 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 necessary for the topping because it helps keep the chocolate layer a little softer, so you can easily slice into these bars.
Once the chocolate-peanut butter mixture is melted and smooth, pour it on top of the peanut butter layer and spread it into an even layer. Then, cover the bars and let them chill in the refrigerator for at least 90 minutes so that they have enough time to firm up.
If desired, you can prep these bars the night before and take them out of the refrigerator when you’re ready to serve them.
What Can I Substitute for the Graham Cracker Crumbs?
I know that graham cracker crumbs are not readily available in other countries. A good alternative would be digestive biscuits or something similar.
Can I Use a Natural Peanut Butter?
No, I recommend using a traditional, no-stir peanut butter from a brand like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butter separates easily and is too oily for this recipe. If you use natural peanut butter to make the bars, I worry that they wouldn’t set up fully.
Baking Tips
- 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-inch pan. The chilling time for the bars will remain the same.
More Chocolate Peanut Butter Desserts!
- Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
Recipe Video
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate 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 to 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!
What are your thoughts on replacing the graham cookies with chocolate baking crumbs?
As long as they’re similar and about as sweet as graham cracker crumbs, I think it would be fine.
Hi, I want to try these, but I’m wondering if I could use oatmeal instead of Graham cracker crumbs?
I honestly haven’t tried it, so I’m not quite sure. You probably could but I’m not sure how much you would need and it would change the taste and texture of the bars too.
Can I not use graham, and just pure peanut butter mixture? Or is there a specific purpose why it’s being used? Thanks 🙂
The graham cracker crumbs help to thicken up the filling. If you omit it, the peanut butter mixture will be pretty soft and not very easy to cut into.
Thank you for the reply Danielle! I did not weigh the butter, but they were standard size. I wonder if I didn’t have enough sugar? I didn’t spoon the sugar into the cup, I just scooped it with my measuring cup. I didn’t realize that was not as accurate as spooning into the cup until I started reading about baking measurements. When I try again would it be better to lessen the butter or add more graham crackers or a little of both if I prefer not to make them sweeter? Thank you so much!
You could try reducing the butter next time and see if it helps. Maybe start with 1 stick of butter, then add more as needed.
I just made these for the first time and I am trying to figure out what I did wrong. The peanut butter mixture did not firm up. I double checked and think I used the right amounts. I chilled them in the refrigerator for 2 1/2 hours. The chocolate was very firm. I crushed the Graham crackers in a zip lock bag very fine with a rolling pin, could they have been crushed too fine? How do you crush yours? I used 2 sticks of butter, I believe that equals 1 cup ( 8 Tbs each stick ). They taste really good! We just have to scoop them up and stick them to the chocolate square! Thank you for the great recipe and any advice you can give Danielle! I hope I can make mine look like yours! I will try again, my husband loves the flavor! Thank you!
Hi, Kellie! I typically use a food processor for the graham cracker crumbs, but if you used a bag and a rolling pin I don’t think they would be too fine for this recipe. When it comes to butter, it’s usually standard for 2 sticks to be 1 cup but some brands are different. Did you check to see how much they weighed? 1 stick should equal 4 ounces.
How about shipping them out of state – usually takes maybe three days to arrive ? Any advice on shipping? Thanks!!
The peanut butter layer and topping will soften at room temperature, so I don’t think these would ship very well.
Delicious and so easy to make! Taste just Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Can you use a 9/13 aluminum pan
Yes, that’s fine!
Would it be easy to cut these with a heart cookie cutter? (thinking a valentine treat for the hubby….
As long as they’re chilled, that would probably be okay. If you have heart-shaped molds, that may be a better option.
I tried this with chocolate graham crackers and milk chocolate chips as variations, because that’s what I had on hand, and they are SO GOOD! Very sweet, but I think that’s the overly-sweet chips that I used. I’ll definitely be making them again. So easy, so yummy, and honestly so pretty! Thanks @livewellbakeoften for a spectacular recipe!
Sounds delicious! So glad you liked the bars, Heather!
Fabulous. Just what I’ve been looking for, after sampling these in a European Coffeehouse.
This was easy and so delicious! I used organic peanut Butter, I was worried but it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!
I simply love peanut butter cups so this recipe is peanut butter cups on steroids. I pressed Snyders butter snaps pretzels into the peanut butter base then covered it with the chocolate topping. Its a nice added crunch.
Diane
Hi hi,
Love the recipe and have it bookmarked for continued use :p but I wanted to make them today and found that j don’t be e enough powdered sugar… I do have normal and caster sugar on hand… are either of them okay to substitute the powdered version… haven’t tried it before with anything other than what’s in the recipe… only things I change (but that is personal preference) is less Graham crackers and chocolate chips in the peanutbutter mixture :p
Love the squares, thanks from the Netherlands
I wouldn’t suggest it for this recipe, the powdered sugar helps to keep the peanut butter layer firm. You can make powdered sugar by blending granulated sugar until it’s powdery, but you do need a powerful blender to do that.
Thanks for the reply, I tried cutting down the recipe to accommodate the amount of powdered sugar I had, but I made an error somewhere since the peanut butter mix was way too soft :p so time to do it again but now with the recipe as seen above :p
Over making it and especially eating it! Five Stars 🙂
I think these need less graham cracker and more peanut butter. Mine came out dry and crumbly, and it seemed to me they could have had more peanut butter flavor. Good idea, though….basically they are buckeyes without all the work!
That’s strange, the mixture shouldn’t be dry. Did you make any adjustments to the recipe or anything? You could try adding a little extra peanut butter.
I used half the graham crackers (1 pkg) and then 1 cup of animal cracker crumbs. Really Good!
i made these today and followed the recipe exactly, mine are dry as well, I cut them and they are just crumbling.. im going to make another batch and add more peanut butter and hope that works.
Hi, Lisa! Are you packing the powdered sugar quite a bit in your measuring cup? If so, that may be why they were a bit crumbly.
HI,
Great flavor but I halved the recipe and the layers are so skimpy in an 8 x 8 pan. Whole bar is very thin.
I did use natural peanut butter (with oil very well blended) because that’s what I had on hand.
Crazy to make a full recipe and put that into an 8 x 8 pan?
You could use the full recipe in an 8×8 pan or maybe even an 11×7 if you have one.
Wanting to make these bars but how many ww freestyle points per serving please?
Hi, Kim! I’m not familiar with ww freestyle points, so I’m unsure.
I love your recipes! For this one what kind of peanut butter do you use? I was thinking to use the powdered peanut butter (mixed with water) as a lower fat alternative. What do you think?
I prefer to use Jif or Skippy. I haven’t tried powdered peanut butter, I’m not sure how it will affect the taste or if they’ll set up properly.
Easy and delicious! My kids loved it! Tastes like Butterfingers!
Wondering if these bars hold up well at room temperature? Needing something I can plate and leave out for 4-6 hours.
They’ll be fine at room temperature, but the peanut butter and chocolate layers will soften some if they sit out for that long.
Would it work out if I made a bottom layer as well as the top layer ?
Yes, 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.
I 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?
Melting 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.
These 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!
So glad you liked the bars, Sara!
I am vegan. Can I use margarine? plus with maybe a little refined coconut oil? I am making these tomorrow, one way or another!
I think margarine would be fine!
Hi Danielle,
Any suggestions for cutting down on the sweetness? Would these set up with half the sugar?
I 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) 🙂
May I make suggestion please. I have made these using powdered milk to mix into the peanut butter and honey or maple syrup to sweeten. They are delicious and nutritious!
could 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?
I’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.
These are delicious. To make them killer-good add 2 cups mini chocolate chips to the filling.
Love that idea, Nancy! I’m trying that next time I make a batch!
For another great substitution I use oreo’s instead of graham crackers for mine.
Thanks 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
It 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. 🙂
Hi can I use a mixer? This,will be my first tiine doing this recipe.
Yes, that’s fine.
Will a hand mixer also work?
Yes, that’s fine.
Can 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?
Hi, Susan! I wouldn’t suggest it for this recipe, the bars would likely be too greasy and not hold together very well.
Very easy to put together and a big hit.
You probably used to much butter it worked supper well for me just remember small bits at a time rather have to little than to much because you can always add a little bit more!???