No Bake Peanut Butter Bars (Printable version)
Creamy no-bake peanut butter bars with a chocolate topping - quick chill-and-serve bars for a sweet, hand-held dessert.
# List of ingredients:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cups powdered sugar
04 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Topping
06 - 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
07 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
# Directions:
01 - Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing an overhang for easy removal.
02 - Combine melted butter and 1 cup of creamy peanut butter in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
03 - Add powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs to the peanut butter mixture, then stir in vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until a thick dough forms.
04 - Press the peanut butter mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
05 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter together in 30-second increments, stirring after each interval until smooth and fully melted.
06 - Pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the base and spread evenly with a spatula.
07 - Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or until fully set.
08 - Lift the chilled slab out of the pan using the parchment paper, cut into 16 bars, and serve.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This is one of those no-fuss treats you can throw together with pantry staples when a sweet craving hits.
- The way the chocolate-peanut butter top cracks satisfyingly when you cut it makes it hard not to sneak two bars.
02 -
- I once skipped lining the pan and spent way too long chiseling bars out—never again.
- Warming your knife under hot water before slicing keeps the chocolate top from cracking too much.
03 -
- Let the bars rest at room temperature for five minutes before slicing for the neatest edges.
- A thin offset spatula is the best tool to swirl the chocolate topping perfectly even.