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    Home » Recipes » Buckeye Bars

    Buckeye Bars

    Published: Jul 6, 2021 · Modified: Mar 23, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

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    a plate of peanut butter chocolate buckeye bars with text overlay reading Buckeye Bars

    These easy Buckeye Bars are a no-bake dessert made with the classic combination of a peanut butter and chocolate layered and sliced into perfect handheld dessert bars!

    If you love easy no-bake desserts, be sure to make these chocolate-covered almond treats followed by my easy Rolo turtles recipe and these Chocolate Haystacks. Your whole family will thank you!

    stack of peanut butter and chocolate buckeye bars on a plate

    Table of contents

    • Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Variations/ Substitutions
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s
      • Other Dessert Bars Recipes

    Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

    I love a good no-bake dessert especially in the summertime because it means no turning on the oven! This is a quick and easy no-fuss peanut butter treat recipe that requires just a few ingredients and is perfect for peanut butter or chocolate fans and anyone who loves the classic buckeye combination.

    These peanut butter and chocolate squares are thick, rich, and a mouthful of magic. I make them for any and every holiday, but they’re also easily portable for potlucks, the recipe makes enough to serve a crowd for game day gatherings, and they’re great for bake sales since they are naturally gluten-free.

    These chocolate peanut butter bars are sinfully delicious. They’re a decadent bite, made with a sweet and chewy peanut butter layer topped with a layer of smooth hardened chocolate that just melts in your mouth. There’s just something so amazing about an easy dessert that is so irresistible.

    Why this recipe works

    • A quick and easy dessert that come together in 10 minutes.
    • No need to heat up the kitchen with the oven.
    • Made with just 6 simple ingredients most of which you probably have in your kitchen cupboards.
    • Everyone loves the combination of peanut butter and chocolate!
    • They easily serve a crowd and can be cut into mini squares for mini desserts if necessary.
    • A flexible recipe that can be made with a few twists.
    • Similar to Peanut Butter Balls, another peanut butter chocolate recipe we love.
    bowls of chocolate chips, powdered sugar, vanilla, and butter on a counter

    Ingredients/shopping list

    • Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter works best for this recipe. It gives the peanut butter layer a smooth consistency which is nicer to bite into.
    • Butter – Softened, which will help make the peanut butter even more buttery, soft and just plain delicious.
    • Powdered sugar – Gives the peanut butter mixture a nice sweetness but also helps with the texture, giving it a little chewiness and structure.
    • Chocolate chips – Depend on your tastes you can use milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and even dark chocolate. Each will have a different flavor, but each will turn out perfect.
    • Coconut oil – Adding coconut oil is optional, but when melted with the chocolate it helps create a smooth finish with a bit of an extra sheen to it. It solidifies nicely along with the chocolate and gives it a melt in your mouth experience.

    How to Make this Recipe

    This recipe will come together in 10 minutes and the chill time of 2 hours is definitely worth it!

    Step 1: Mix peanut butter and softened butter together in the large bowl of a stand mixer or use a hand mixer. Beat until fully blended, scraping down the sides as you go.

    peanut butter mixture in a big stainless steel mixing bowl

    Step 2: Turn the speed down to low and add vanilla extract followed by the slow addition of the powdered sugar. Continue mixing at low speed until a ball forms.

    peanut butter and powdered sugar mixture in a big bowl

    Step 3: Pour mixture into the bottom of a prepared 9×9 square baking pan, lined with parchment paper or wax paper, and press down with fingers or the back of a wooden spoon, making sure to get it in the edges of pan..

    Step 4: Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwaveable bowl and heat for a total of 1 minute, stirring halfway through. Pour melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer and spread using a spatula. Chill the bars in the fridge for about 2 hours until fully hardened.

    TIP: Top with a sprinkling of coarse sea salt before serving, if desired. The sweet and salty flavor balance is out of this world!

    Variations/ Substitutions

    1: Add a cup of Rice Krispies cereal to the peanut butter mixture fif desired.

    2: Top with chopped peanuts before placing the bars into the refrigerator to set.

    3. Crumble chopped pretzels over the top of melted chocolate before placing them in the refrigerator

    4. Swap the peanut butter for almond butter for a twist.

    closeup of chocolate and peanut butter bars on a white plate

    Tips

    • Use processed peanut butter. It would be difficult to use natural peanut butter for this recipe, as the oils separate and it doesn’t hold as nicely together as processed peanut butter does.
    • Using parchment paper will allow easy lifting out of the pan.
    • Don’t skip the chill time. Allowing the bars to set nicely, will give them time to solidify and hold their shape. It’s much easier to cut them and nicer looking when you serve them.
    • Use a sharp knife or serrated knife to cut them to as big or as small pieces as needed.
    • With that being said, if they are too cold or to solid, you’ll need to allow them to sit for abot 10 minutes at room temperature for easy slicing.

    FAQ’s

    How to Store buckeye bars?

    This is a fantastic dessert to make up to a day ahead and keep them chilled in the fridge overnight in the pan. Anything past that you’ll need to transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.

    Can I freeze them?

    You can! Wrap them individually for easy storing in a Ziploc bag and that way you can just grab a couple at a time. Allow thawing before enjoying all over again.

    Other Dessert Bars Recipes

    Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

    Lemon Squares

    Pecan Pie Bars

    Pumpkin Pie Bars

    Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    stack of no bake peanut butter chocolate bars

    Buckeye Bars

    Buckeye bars are a naturally gluten-free no-bake dessert made with the classic combination of a peanut butter and chocolate layered and sliced into perfect handheld dessert bars!
    5 from 33 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 528kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Equipment

    • Parchment Paper
    • Mixing Bowls
    • 9×9 Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
    • 1 stick butter softened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar do not pack
    • 2 cups chocolate chips
    • 2 tablespoons coconut oil optional

    Instructions

    • Line a square 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper.
    • Add the peanut butter and softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium speed with a paddle attachment until combined thoroughly, scraping down the sides as it blends.
      1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 stick butter
    • Add the vanilla extract and blend on low speed and then add the powdered sugar slowly. (careful not to over pack the measuring cup. see notes)
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • Once all powdered sugar is added, continue to mix on low speed until a ball forms. The dough should not be too wet. If it is add a little more powdered sugar.
    • Transfer the peanut butter mixture to the lined pan and press it down with fingers or he back of wooden spoon (press into the corners well)
    • In a separate microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil and microwave for 30 seconds then stir and heat for 20-30 more seconds.
      2 cups chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons coconut oil
    • Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer and use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over top.
    • Place the bars in the refrigerator for approximately 2 hours to allow the chocolate to fully hardened.
    • Top with sea salt, if desired.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
    Use dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chocolate chips.
    The coconut oil will help the chocolates consistency and give it a nice shine.
    It’s best to spoon the powdered sugar into the measuring cups and level off with the back of a butter knife. Or use a food scale to weigh the powdered sugar out. Be careful not to over-pack the measuring spoon or the bars will be more crumbly.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 60g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

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    Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lizzy

      May 28, 2023 at 11:14 pm

      Is the butter salted or unsalted?
      The recipe does not indicate.

      Reply
    2. Victoria McAdams

      May 12, 2023 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      yummy

      Reply
    3. B Heinold

      March 08, 2023 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      I add 1 cup Rice Krispies and that also makes stiffer and great tasting. Have made this in ball’s especially for Christmas with my grandchildren, tradition and fun

      Reply
    4. bb

      December 10, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      peanut butter to soft could not pick the square up why would this be followed recipe to a T.

      Reply
      • Kellie

        December 15, 2022 at 5:45 pm

        I just made these very good taste but the peanut butter mixture is to soft even after frig for two hours.anyway to make it not so soft.ideas would be great.

        Reply
        • Sherri

          December 15, 2022 at 8:43 pm

          That may happen if too much peanut butter is used and the batter is too wet. I usually measure very carefully or weigh it with a food scale if you have one.

        • Karen

          July 02, 2023 at 10:04 am

          I make a recipe similar to this and adding graham cracker crumbs helps hold it all together.

    5. Michelle

      December 08, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      Can I use shortening instead of coconut oil?

      Reply
    6. Martha Griffin

      December 06, 2022 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      Love chocolate and peanut butter together

      Reply
    7. K

      December 05, 2022 at 3:12 pm

      Would these freeze well?

      Reply
      • Sherri

        December 05, 2022 at 3:43 pm

        They freeze great for me!

        Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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