Description
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars are a no-bake, crowd-pleasing treat combining a buttery graham cracker crust with a rich peanut butter and smooth chocolate topping. Perfect for dessert trays, potlucks, or any time you want a deliciously creamy and crunchy snack that’s quick to assemble and requires no oven time.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
Topping
- 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare the base mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and 1 cup of creamy natural peanut butter. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Press the base into the pan: Evenly press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan, ensuring it creates a flat and even layer to serve as the crust for the bars.
- Make the chocolate peanut butter topping: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of creamy peanut butter with 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips. Microwave the mixture in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until fully melted and smooth.
- Add topping to the base: Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture evenly over the prepared base layer. Use a spatula to spread it out smoothly across the surface.
- Chill the bars: Place the pan in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for 1 to 2 hours or until the topping is firm and set.
- Cut into bars and serve: Once the mixture is firm, cut into approximately 54 small bars or your preferred size for serving.
- Storage: Store the peanut butter chocolate bars in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them firm, and always serve them chilled for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- The amount of powdered sugar can be adjusted based on your desired sweetness and texture.
- Using natural peanut butter avoids added sugars and sweeteners for a cleaner taste.
- Press the base layer firmly for a compact bottom that holds together well.
- Microwave chocolate mixture carefully to avoid burning; stirring frequently is key.
- These bars keep well refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for longer storage.
- Cut bars smaller or larger depending on your serving preference or occasion size.
