No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars (Print version)
Rich, creamy peanut butter bars with chocolate topping, chilled until set for easy slicing and serving.
# What you'll need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cups powdered sugar
04 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Topping
06 - 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
07 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
# Method:
01 - Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, combine melted butter and 1 cup peanut butter and mix until smooth.
03 - Stir in powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs, then add vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until a dense dough forms.
04 - Press the peanut butter mixture evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
05 - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter together in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
06 - Pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the base and spread evenly.
07 - Refrigerate the pan for at least 2 hours or until completely firm.
08 - Once chilled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper, cut into 16 pieces, and serve.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- No oven required, so you can whip these up even when the summer heat peaks.
- The marriage of creamy peanut butter and silky chocolate never fails to win over new fans in my house.
02 -
- Once, I tried to speed things up by freezing the bars instead of chilling—they were impossible to cut and lost their silkiness.
- Stirring the chocolate too fast when it’s hot can cause it to seize; gentle does it for perfectly shiny topping every time.
03 -
- If your kitchen is warm, freeze your knife blade for a minute before cutting for perfect slices.
- Line the pan well with parchment, making sure it goes up the sides for easy and mess-free removal.