No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are an easy no‑bake dessert that taste almost like a Reese’s! They need only 5 ingredients and you probably already have them in your pantry.
*Originally published July 2015*
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
I pulled these bars back out of the archives for a refresh. I updated the photos and made a few tweaks to the recipe so the peanut butter layer is a bit thicker — because you can never have too much peanut butter, right?
If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups, you’ll adore this homemade bar version. They’re incredibly simple and use just five ingredients: graham crackers, peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, and chocolate chips.
About these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars:
- These bars require chilling time to firm up, so plan ahead.
- Make ahead: You can prepare them 5–7 days in advance. Once the chocolate topping has set, store the bars tightly covered in the refrigerator, or freeze wrapped tightly for up to 2 months.
- Grind the graham crackers into a very fine crumb — a food processor works best for this, even a mini unit handles small batches well.
- Avoid natural, un-stabilized peanut butter (the kind that separates and requires stirring). It tends to be too runny and the bars won’t hold their shape as well.
- For the most Reese’s-like flavor use milk chocolate chips. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate also work beautifully if you prefer a less sweet topping — feel free to mix varieties to suit your taste.
These no‑bake chocolate peanut butter bars are a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. They’re ideal for holidays, parties, potlucks, or an easy family dessert. Best of all, they’re fast to assemble and require no oven time.
Pin these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and save them for later!
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
9
bars
Countryside Cravings
15 mins
4 hrs
15 mins
Ingredients
Base:
- 1/2 cup (113g) butter, melted
- 2 cups (190g) powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cup (400g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cup (140g) graham cracker crumbs
Topping:
- 1 cup (165g) milk chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
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Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil and grease with butter; set aside.
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In a large bowl combine the base ingredients: melted butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and graham cracker crumbs. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
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In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat the topping ingredients (chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons peanut butter) in short intervals, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Avoid overheating. Spread the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base, then refrigerate until completely set — at least 4 hours.
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For cleaner slices, allow the bars to sit at room temperature briefly so the chocolate won’t crack. Use the foil to lift the slab from the pan and cut into squares with a sharp knife. Store finished bars in the refrigerator.
Notes
- These bars require chill time to firm up, so make them when you have at least 4 hours to spare.
- Make ahead: Prepare up to 5–7 days in advance and store tightly covered in the refrigerator after the chocolate has set. Freeze wrapped for up to 2 months.
- Pulse graham crackers to a fine crumb in a food processor for best texture.
- Avoid runny, stir-to-separate natural peanut butter; it can make the bars too soft.
- For an authentic Reese’s taste use milk chocolate chips. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate are great alternatives if you prefer less sweetness or want a richer flavor.
Did you make this?
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