• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Butter & Baggage logo
  • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breads & Biscuits
    • Breakfast
      • Muffins
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
      • Bars
      • Brownies
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Pies, Cobblers & Crisps
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Sauces & Dips
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Chilis
  • Kitchen Hacks
  • Portfolio
  • About
    • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Kitchen Hacks
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Bars » 5 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

    5 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

    Published: Feb 11, 2023 · Modified: Apr 11, 2023 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    Stacked peanut butter chocolate bars.
    Stacked peanut butter chocolate bars.

    These  peanut butter bars are a simple and delicious treat that require no baking! You just cream together peanut butter, butter, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar and top with a chocolate topping. The result is a sweet, creamy bar, that you’re going to love with just five ingredients.

    A stack of chocolate peanut butter bars.

    The Best Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

    Do you love a good Resse’s Cup? These no-bake peanut butter bars are a pretty close copycat. There’s just something magical that happens when you combine chocolate and peanut butter, like in peanut butter pie or chocolate peanut butter brownies.

    There are times, when you need a simple dessert that won’t make the entire kitchen a mess. These peanut butter squares are just what you need. You can make them without anything other than a microwave.

    I first made these for Natalie when she was in college and she wanted something she could make with only a microwave. While you don’t need a mixer for these, using one will make the peanut butter part creamier, so I would suggest using one if it’s available.

    A batch of peanut butter bars on parchment paper.

    Of course all of her college friends loved them! Since then, I’ve tried them out on more picky eaters (college kids will eat anything) and everyone agrees they are scrumptious, better than a Reese’s Cup.

    Even though they only have five ingredients, they are so creamy and delicious. You won’t believe how easy they are to make.  

    Why you’ll love these Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars

    • Peanut butter and chocolate are amazing together
    • Only 5 ingredients
    • No oven needed
    • You can make them without a mixer
    • You don’t even have to let the butter soften – it uses melted butter
    • Creamy texture will melt-in-your-mouth

    Do you know the secret to that grainy texture of a Reese’s Cup? Well they’re not telling, but finely crushed graham crackers are added to these peanut butter bars which give them a slightly grainy texture and a delicious flavor.

    Extend the Life of your Berries by 2 weeks!

    Plus 4 mind-blowing food hacks to save Time & Money.

      We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
      Just 5 ingredients for peanut butter bars.

      Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars ingredients

      • Peanut butter – if you want a creamy texture, use a creamy peanut butter. Natural peanut butters will separate and do not work well for these bars. Use a brand like Jill or Peter Pan. If you like a crunchy texture, than try a crunchy peanut butter instead.
      • Butter – you can use salted for these bars or unsalted. It doesn’t make any difference.
      • Powdered sugar – I try to use a national brand, sometimes if you get an off brand, it can taste soapy. I have no scientific evidence of this, just what I’ve noticed.
      • Graham crackers – If you can find graham cracker crumbs that makes it easier, but if not, you can crush them in a ziplock with a rolling pin or wine bottle. Just roll it over the crackers until they are powdery. You will need 1 ½ sleeves of graham crackers.
      • Chocolate – Since these are pretty sweet, I prefer a dark chocolate, but semi-sweet or milk chocolate will all work. You can use chocolate chips or bars of chocolate.

      Alternative toppings for Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars

      If you want even more peanut butter taste, then add 6 tablespoons of peanut butter to the chocolate instead of butter.

      You can use bitter-sweet chocolate for a stronger chocolate punch or try adding flaky salt to the top while the chocolate is still soft. I love a salty chocolate combo.

      If you’re a white chocolate fan, substitute that for the semi-sweet.

      These bars need to be refrigerated for about 2 hours to allow the butter to firm up and the chocolate topping to set, so plan accordingly. If the chocolate has gotten too hard to cut, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes and it will be soft enough to cut without breaking.

      How to make No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

      Step 1: combine the ingredients

      Crush the graham crackers if you don’t have graham cracker crumbs.

      Crushed graham crackers in a measuring cup.
      Crush the graham crackers.

      Melt the butter and add it to the peanut butter and powdered sugar and graham crackers. Mix until it is well combined.

      Powdered sugar, peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs in a bowl.
      Combine the ingredients.
      Butter being poured over a bowl of powdered sugar and peanut butter.
      Pour melted butter over the mixture.
      The filling for peanut butter bars in a glass bowl.
      Mix by hand or with a mixer until very well combined.

      Step 2: assemble

      Place parchment paper in a 9 x 13 inch pan and press the peanut mixture into the pan.

      Peanut butter filling pressed into a pan with parchment paper.
      Press the mixture into a pan lines with parchment paper.

      Step 3: add the chocolate

      Melt the chocolate and some butter in the microwave.

      Chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl.
      Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave.
      Chocolate topping in a measuring bowl.
      Stir until it is smooth.

      Spread it over the peanut butter mixture.

      A baking pan of peanut butter bars covered in chocolate.
      Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter mixture while it is warm.

      Step 4: wait

      This has to be refrigerated for 1-2 hours for the filling and chocolate to set. Once the chocolate has set, you can cut it into squares. If it is too hard to cut, let them sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.

      Peanut butter bars on parchment paper.

      How to store No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

      Peanut butter bars will freeze easily but you don’t want them to stick together. Try putting them on a cookie sheet and freezing until they are firm. Then place them in an airtight container and put a piece of parchment paper between the layers. This will make it easy to remove one without it sticking to the one underneath it.

      These dessert bars need to be refrigerated. As they sit out, the chocolate will get soft, so it’s best to keep them cold or even frozen. They don’t take long to thaw if you need a quick pick me up.

      Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars FAQs

      How many graham crackers do you need for a cup of graham cracker crumbs?

      One sleeve of graham crackers contains 9 crackers which will amount to 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs.

      How do you keep the chocolate topping from cracking?

      Adding butter or peanut butter to the chocolate will make it easier to cut but you can leave them out and just top them with melted chocolate. To cut them, let them sit out at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to soften the chocolate before cutting.

      How do you keep the bars from sticking to the pan?

      To easily remove bars from a baking pan, place a piece of parchment paper in the pan before adding the peanut butter mixture. The parchment paper should be longer than the pan so that you can just grab the ends and pull the entire batch easily out of the pan.

      More peanut butter desserts to try

      • Slices of peanut butter pie on white plates.
        Creamy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie with Ganache
      • Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies with a glass of milk
        Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
      • A stack of peanut butter brownies on parchment paper
        Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe
      • A plate of peanut butter oatmeal cookies with a glass of milk
        Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

      If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

      Three peanut butter bars stacked on top of parchment paper.

      Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Bars

      Author: Barbara Curry
      These  peanut butter bars are a simple and delicious treat that require no baking! You just cream together peanut butter, butter, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar and top with a chocolate topping. The result is a sweet, creamy bar, that you’re going to love with just five ingredients.
      5 from 1 vote
      Print Pin
      PREP: 10 minutes
      COOK: 0 minutes
      TOTAL: 10 minutes
      Servings: 24

      Ingredients
       

      • 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs 1 ½ sleeves
      • 4 cups powdered sugar
      • 1 cup butter melted
      • 16 ounces creamy peanut butter 1 ½ cups

      TOPPING

      • 12 ounces chocolate chips
      • 6 tablespoons butter
      Prevent your screen from going dark

      Instructions
       

      • Line a 9 X 13 baking pan with parchment paper.
      • In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Pour melted butter over the top and mix well with an electric mixer until creamy.
      • Press into the prepared pan.
      • In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and 6 tablespoons of butter at medium power for 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until just melted. Stir until smooth and pour over the peanut butter mixture and smooth with an offset spatula or a knife.
      • Refrigerate for about 1-2 hours until the chocolate topping is firm. Remove bars from the pan using the edges of the parchment paper to lift out of the pan. Cut into bars, if the chocolate is too hard to cut without cracking, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes until it has slightly softened.
      Barbara’s Tips + Notes
      • Don’t use natural peanut butter, it will separate.
      • Use parchment paper or aluminum foil on the bottom of the baking pan to make it easy to remove from the pan.
      • These will need to refrigerate for at least an hour for the chocolate to set before cutting. If it is too hard to cut, let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.
      • You can use any type of chocolate that you prefer, chocolate chips or a chocolate bar. 
      • These need to be kept refrigerated.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1serving | Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 268IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
      Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

      Explore Recipes

      BarsUnder 30 MinutesEntertainingGame Day
      « Soft & Fluffy Homemade Rolls
      Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast »

      Reader Interactions

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

      More about me →

      Subscribe

      Brunch Favorites

      • A square serving of scalloped sweet poatoes.
        Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Two Types of Potatoes
      • A brie and sausage casserole with a serving spoon.
        Overnight Sausage Casserole with Brie
      • A bowl of square biscuits.
        Old Fashioned Buttery 7 UP Biscuits
      • A group of muffins next to a cake stand of muffins.
        Mixed Berry Muffins with Streusel Topping

      Popular

      • Black bottom chocolate cupcakes on parchment paper.
        Chocolate Black Bottom Cupcakes with Cream Cheese
      • A slice of blueberry pie with whipped cream on a white plate.
        Recipe for Fresh Blueberry Pie That’s Not Runny
      • A baking dish of Queso Chicken
        Queso Chicken
      • Mini appetizers on a platter
        Mini Croque Monsieur

      Footer

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      COPYRIGHT © 2023 BUTTER & BAGGAGE | PRIVACY POLICY | WEB STORIES
      BRANDING & CUSTOMIZATION BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS

      502 shares