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Home » Desserts » Peanut Butter Bars- No-Bake Recipe!

Peanut Butter Bars- No-Bake Recipe!

Rate Recipe By Jesseca on December 15, 2022

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These easy peanut butter bars combine a sweet peanut butter crust with a thin layer of chocolate! Only 5 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes! 

Peanut butter bars stacked on a tray

I have been reaching for recipes and desserts that take me down memory lane. Easy ideas that bring up all of the feelings of nostalgia. These are the recipes I want to share with my child. I want him to get all of these classics into his memories with mom so he can share them with his kids one day. 

No-bake chocolate Peanut butter bars, lunch lady bars, or school bars… Whatever you call these, they are INCREDIBLE. Minimal ingredients and the taste of Reese’s. All of the magic starts with a no-bake peanut butter crust pressed gently into a pan and then spread with a peanut butter chocolate topping. 

Recipe Features:

  • No-Bake: This recipe is ideal for hot summer days or any time you just don’t want to turn on the oven.
  • 5-Ingredient dessert recipe.
  • Perfect chocolate peanut butter flavor.
peanut butter and chocolate chips

What You Need:

We’ve also heard these referred to as school peanut butter bars!

  • Butter – Butter is what holds the crust together. It is the binding agent that works with the peanut butter to give you a good solid base. It also adds the most incredible buttery flavor that is hard to resist.
  • Peanut Butter– The star ingredient! We have made these about a dozen times. I recommend using creamy, and not crunchy, peanut butter for this recipe. We have also tried it with natural peanut butter. It worked ok, but had a slightly different texture. 
  • Powdered Sugar- Just a tad to sweeten things up. This is also known as confectioners sugar and typically used in frostings. 
  • Graham Crackers- I used grahams, BUT *surprise twist* you can also use Ritz crackers! My husband is a purist and says this craziness, but I love the buttery salt flavor that’s added by the crackers. 
  • Chocolate Chips- Semi sweet is preferred if you would like something close to a Reese’s flavor. 

Semi sweet chocolate chips vs milk chocolate chips

If you ask my Instagram followers, they are firmly divided on which is better. And people will fight to the death to defend their precious chocolate picks. So what is the difference and which one is best for this recipe?

  • Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips- Semi sweet has a high cocoa content which makes it taste closer to a dark chocolate. It is slightly bitter which makes it ideal pairing for desserts that are already plenty sweet (think chocolate chip cookies). 
  • Milk Chocolate Chips- Milk chocolate has a sweeter flavor that is less rich than its counterpart. It tends to be a little more creamy and loved by many.

For me, I prefer semi sweet for all of my recipes. I’m a dark chocolate fan and feel it compliments everything. That being said, milk chocolate pairs wonderfully with bold flavors, like peanut butter. So you cannot go wrong with either variety.  

lunch lady bars on tray with graham crackers

Step by Step Instructions:

  1. Prepare a 9×13 pan by misting with cooking spray, butter, or lining with parchment. 
  2. Add the butter and 1 cup of peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl. Heat for one minute, stir, and heat and additional 30 seconds or until fully melted. 
  3. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Transfer to your prepared dish and gently press down until even. 
  4. Chill the crust for 15 minutes. 
  5. Combine the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat until melted, being sure to stir at every 15-30 second interval. 
  6. Pour the melted chocolate over the prepared crust. Use a spatula or spoon to spread over your bars. 
  7. Allow the chocolate to firm, cut, and enjoy! 
no bake peanut butter bars stacked

Peanut Butter Bar Tips:

  1. Use parchment paper to line your pan to help easily pull the bars out when ready to slice. 
  2. Creamy peanut butter tends to work better than crunchy for this recipe. 
  3. Use a high powered blender (affiliate) or food processor (affiliate) to get a fine crumb texture. This will give you the best crust. 
  4. A handheld mixer (affiliate) will make your crust come together quickly and easily! 
  5. Keep your bars stored in an air tight container (affiliate) to help them keep their freshness. 
  6. Try substituting Ritz crackers for the grahams in this recipe for an entirely new flavor! 
chocolate peanut butter bars layered on tray

More Peanut Butter and Chocolate Recipes:

  • Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
  • Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Breakfast Smoothie
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Two Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Easy Buckeye Cookies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Buckeyes

More Dessert Recipes Under 5 Ingredients:

  • Rice Krispie Treats
  • Two Ingredient Fudge
  • Nutelle Mug Cake
  • Two Ingredient Microwave Brownie
  • Five Minute Strawberry Cake
5 from 1 vote

Peanut Butter Bars- No-Bake Recipe!

Created by: Jesseca

Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
12 bars
These easy peanut butter bars combine a sweet peanut butter crust with a thin layer of chocolate! Only 5 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes! 
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Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1-1/4 cup creamy peanut butter divided
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips semi sweet or milk chocolate

Instructions

  • 1. Prepare a 9×13 pan by misting with cooking spray, butter, or lining with parchment. 
  • 2. Add the butter and 1 cup of peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl. Heat for one minute, stir, and heat and additional 30 seconds or until fully melted. 
  • 3. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Transfer to your prepared dish and gently press down until even. 
  • 4. Chill the crust for 15 minutes. 
  • 5. Combine the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat until melted, being sure to stir at every 15-30 second interval. 
  • 6. Pour the melted chocolate over the prepared crust. Use a spatula or spoon to spread over your bars. 
  • 7. Allow the chocolate to firm, cut, and enjoy! 

Notes

Try substituting Ritz crackers for the grahams for an entirely new flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 69g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 37g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 602mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 45g

Equipment

Whisk
Silicone Spatulas
9×13 Dish

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These easy peanut butter bars combine a sweet peanut butter crust with a thin layer of chocolate! Only 5 ingredients and ready in under 10 minutes! 

Still hungry? Follow One Sweet Appetite on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

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Jesseca - Author of One Sweet Appetite

Welcome, I'm Jesseca!

I could not be more excited to have you join me in my kitchen! Everyday easy recipes are my specialty, which means you will find so many fast, quick, and delicious recipes throughout my site. My goal is to create go-to recipes using simple ingredients and pantry staples.

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