No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
In short: Thick, soft peanut butter layer with a thin chocolate topping, made without an oven. Tastes like a peanut butter cup in a bar. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 16 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 16
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 310 kcal
These bars taste like the filling of a peanut butter cup: a thick, soft layer of sweet peanut butter under a thin sheet of chocolate. No oven is involved. You stir the base together, press it into a pan, pour melted chocolate over it and let the fridge do the rest. They are rich and dense, so cut them small. Children enjoy helping, and the bars hold up well in a lunchbox or a gift tin.
Instructions
- Line a 20 cm (8 in) square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- Let the melted butter cool for a few minutes. Stir it together with the peanut butter, cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until you have a thick, evenly mixed dough.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan using the back of a spoon or a flat-bottomed glass.
- Melt the chocolate chips with the 2 tablespoons of peanut butter in short microwave bursts, stirring between each, or over barely simmering water, until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate over the base and spread it to the edges. Tap the pan gently on the counter to level it.
- Chill for at least 1 hour, until the chocolate is set. Let the pan stand for 5 minutes at room temperature, then lift out and cut into 16 bars with a warm knife.
Tips
- Use regular smooth peanut butter. Natural peanut butter separates and leaves the base oily and loose.
- Dip the knife in hot water and wipe it between cuts, so the chocolate layer slices instead of cracking.
Questions and answers
Can I make these peanut butter bars nut-free?
Use sunflower seed butter in the same amounts in place of the peanut butter. The flavor is slightly earthier but the texture is the same.
How do I store no-bake peanut butter bars?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. They freeze well for 2 months.
Why is my base crumbly?
The mixture was probably too dry or the butter had cooled too much. Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons more melted butter and press down harder.
How long does it take to make No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars?
About 25 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars?
About 310 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 310 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 170 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
