These peanut butter bars are so easy to make and are ready to eat in 30 minutes or less! Great for unexpected company or that last minute teen request. Chances are you have most of these ingredients in your pantry, if not all of them!
Why this recipe works
Recipes that don’t require baking are easy and great any time of year. While they are a year-round treat, these peanut butter bars are especially wonderful in the summer, when you don’t want to crank up your oven.
Ingredients you will need
How to Make Peanut Butter Bars
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. To get the complete printable recipe with measurements and instructions, simply scroll down or Jump to Recipe!
- In a mixer or a food processor, combine the first four ingredients until smooth.
- Spread into a 13×9 baking pan.
- For the topping, melt the chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If not completely melted you can heat in 10-second intervals until smooth.
- Spread over the top of the peanut butter layer.
- Chill dessert in the refrigerator for about an hour, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a hand mixer or even a blender if you don’t have a food processor. We like the food processor because it makes for the smoothest mixture.
This recipe uses semi sweet chocolate for the topping. If you want it a bit sweeter, and closer to the flavor of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, simply substitute milk chocolate for the semi sweet. I prefer to use baking chocolate, but you can certainly use chocolate chips instead.
If you love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, these no-bake chocolate topped peanut butter bars are for you. Easy to make and ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
More Peanut Butter Recipes
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
- Peanut Butter Apple Dip
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
- Fudge Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups animal cracker crumbs or vanilla wafers, graham crackers, etc
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
Topping
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 10 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped
Things You’ll Need
Instructions
- In a mixer or a food processor, combine the first four ingredients until smooth. Spread into a 13×9 baking pan.
- For the topping, melt the chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If not completely melted you can heat in 10 second intervals until smooth. Spread over the top of the peanut butter layer.
- Chill dessert in the refrigerator for about an hour, or in the freezer for 15 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.
Video
Expert Tips & FAQs
- You can use a hand mixer or even a blender if you don’t have a food processor. We like the food processor because it makes for the smoothest mixture.
- This recipe uses semi sweet chocolate for the topping. If you want it a big sweeter, and closer to the flavor of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, simply substitute milk chocolate for the semi sweet. I prefer to use baking chocolate, but you can certainly use chocolate chips instead.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on April 15, 2013 but has since been updated with expert tips and new photos.
Amanda Formaro
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Laurette E Thompson says
I used crunchy peanut butter in these, and they were absolutely delicious! LOVE
aketch says
Can I use natural crunchy peanut butter? We prefer it an I have lots on hand. thanks. :)
Amanda Formaro says
I don’t see why not!
Gerry says
The picture of the peanut butter squares has a choc bottom and the recipe doesn,t have it. Do you have a recipe for that one.
Amanda Formaro says
There’s no chocolate bottom in any of the photos in this recipe, so I am not sure what you are referring to.
Brandi says
These turned out amazing, my mom adored them and she’s very picky with things like this. They are often too sweet for her, and she said these were really good.
Patti says
can you use Splenda made into powdered sugar substitute?
Amanda Formaro says
I haven’t tried it but don’t see why not.
Vicki Gregg says
Amazing
Sophie says
How many cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips is a substitute for 10 oz of chocolate?
Amanda Formaro says
About 1.75 cups. I do highly recommend an inexpensive kitchen scale. This is the one that I use and it’s less than $14 – some recipes really require weigh accuracy to come out properly :) https://amzn.to/3aFl9dg