No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are the ultimate no bake treat made with only 4 ingredients and ready in just minutes! This sweet bar is perfect any time you want an easy no bake treat.
If you are craving a sweet treat without a lot of work, these no bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are for you! Made with just 4 ingredients, this is the perfect treat for any occasion!
For more simple and delicious desserts, try this No Bake Ricotta Cheesecake, No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake, or these Cookie Truffles using leftover butter cookies! And for a frozen no-bake treat, try this Frozen Cannoli Bark!
Why You Need to Make this Recipe!
These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are the ultimate no bake treat made with just 4 ingredients. It’s a simple and fast recipe to put together and always a hit with whoever tries them!
This recipe is perfect for anyone just starting out in the kitchen or someone who is just looking for a quick treat. They can be dressed up with sprinkles and go perfectly for any occasion.
If you love the classic Buckeyes recipe, this is a similar, if not better version. And they are super easy to put together in bar form.
These no bake chocolate peanut butter bars without graham crackers are perfect for anyone trying to avoid gluten too. Plus, no mess in crushing graham crackers.
Whether you are looking for a quick treat, no baking required, or a something sweet to add to your holiday dessert table, you have to try these bars. The chocolate peanut butter combination is always a favorite!
Ingredients
Only 4 ingredients needed for these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars: chocolate chips, peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter.
- Peanut Butter: use your favorite peanut butter here, whether it’s chunky or smooth.
- Chocolate Chips: I like to use the semi-sweet chocolate chips, but milk chocolate or dark chocolate work great.
- Butter: salted or unsalted butter works.
- Powdered Sugar: powdered sugar, also known as confectioners sugar, helps bind the bars together without using flour.
- *Coconut Oil (optional): to make the melted chocolate spread easier, sometimes I like to stir a little coconut oil into the melted chocolate.
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
To make these bars, start by lining a 9 x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. This will help lift the bars out of the pan and make them easier to cut.
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Step 1: In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and melted butter. You can use a whisk or electric mixer to blend this together.
Step 2: Add in the powdered sugar. Mix until well combined. The batter will be thick.
Step 3: Pour the batter into your prepared pan. Then, press the batter in using a rubber spatula or damp hands. Place the bars in the refrigerator to chill for at least 20 minutes.
Step 4: prepare the chocolate topping. Add the chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. If your chocolate gets stiff, stir in a bit of coconut oil to loosen it up.
Spread the chocolate over the chilled bars and spread until smooth. Return the bars to refrigerator and chill until hardened. Then, lift out using parchment and cut into squares.
Be sure the bars are chilled before cutting them. The bars are sweet, so cut into smaller pieces to enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to line your pan with parchment so you can easily lift the bars out of the pan and cut them into squares.
- If your peanut butter is cold, bring to room temperature before mixing. You can also microwave for a couple of minutes before using.
- Microwaving the chocolate is the easiest way to melt it. To do so, just heat it at 50% power, stopping to stir it every 30 seconds until melted.
- If you chocolate gets stiff and difficult to spread, just stir in a bit of coconut oil to loosen it up.
- Be sure to chill the bars before cutting. Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze for up to a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make these bars gluten-free without the graham crackers in the crust. Just use peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and chocolate for the recipe.
Depending on the melting method and type of chocolate used, you may have it harden when melted. To loosen up any melted chocolate, just stir in a bit of coconut oil until it become spreadable.
The best way to ensure the freshness of your no bake bars is to refrigerate them in an airtight container. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to a month.
Similar Recipes
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
- 9 x 9 inch baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the peanut butter and melted butter. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until just combined. Press the dough into the prepared pan using a rubber spatula or damp hands. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- For the chocolate topping, melt the chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of butter in a microwave safe bowl at 50% power, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until just melted. Spread over cooled bars. Refrigerate until hardened and cut into small squares.
Notes
- Be sure to line your pan with parchment so you can easily lift the bars out of the pan and cut them into squares.
- If your peanut butter is cold, bring to room temperature before mixing. You can also microwave for a couple of minutes before using.
- Microwaving the chocolate is the easiest way to melt it. To do so, just heat it at 50% power, stopping to stir it every 30 seconds until melted.
- If you chocolate gets stiff and difficult to spread, just stir in a bit of coconut oil to loosen it up.
- Be sure to chill the bars before cutting. Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze for up to a month.
I made these this morning and they came out delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Great recipe! I make this every couple of weeks and everyone loves it.
Thank you so much.
yay! It’s one of my favorites. So happy you enjoy it 🙂
Slaps.
Followed recipe but my crust turned out like cookie dough
I don’t know why that would be. I hope it was delicious either way!
I followed the directions exactly. My peanut butter mixture never hardened. It’s mushy. Had to serve these upside down….the chocolate on the bottom. Any suggestions on why this happened?
I’m not certain why that would happen. Perhaps your peanut butter was too runny or you added too much butter. Did you chill them before serving?
I absolutely love no bake desserts, and these bars are calling my name! Can’t wait to give them a try.
These are the perfect treat for any party – if they don’t get gobbled up before you get to the party! Delish!
These are delicious! You get the taste of a buckeye without all the work! I add a little salt and a little vanilla to the peanut butter mix. I also use a tablespoon of peanut butter in my melted chocolate and it keeps the chocolate from getting too hard and they’re easier to cut.
So many good tips! Thanks for commenting. So happy you love them 🙂
Oh my, no-bake and my favorite flavor combination. These addictive bars are going to be made ASAP!
Enjoyed these for an afternoon treat, and they did not disappoint! I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!
I love that I can easily whip this up and don’t even need to turn on the oven. So tasty