These Peanut Butter Bars are a quick and easy recipe that’s made with simple ingredients and loved by every peanut butter lover. They’re a no bake dessert that combines classic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter in a very simple way.
Love no bake desserts or chocolate peanut butter cookies? You will love these Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut Butter Balls and these amazing Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Table of contents
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
These dessert bars are a fool-proof peanut butter treat. Turning them into Holiday themed bars is so easy too with the addition of holiday sprinkles on top of the bars. Make them for your Christmas parties or give as gifts to neighbors and friends.
This sweet treat that takes no time to whip up. Just let the chocolate set up and then slice into bars and serve up for a fun, delicious treat.
These are bursting with peanut butter flavor in each bite and will become a family favorite treat in no time.
Ingredients/shopping list
Peanut Butter – I used a creamy peanut butter for this recipe like Skippy or Jif. Make sure it is quality peanut butter as it is going to be the stand out flavor.
Butter – Unsalted butter is what I used. If you use salted butter then omit the salt.
Vanilla and Salt – These two ingredients are gonna enhance the flavor.
Powdered Sugar – If your powdered sugar has a lot of clumps then you can run it through a sifter. This will helps to ensure your peanut butter layer is nice and creamy.
Coconut Oil – The coconut oil is going to help the chocolate get a nice smooth look.
Chocolate – You can use any type of chocolate you want. Milk, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate, etc.
Sprinkles – You can use festive sprinkles to give this dessert a fun look for Christmas or any other holiday.
Sprinkles – You can use festive sprinkles to give this dessert a fun look for Christmas.
Variations/ Substitutions
1. Use crunchy peanut butter for the peanut butter base.
2. Feel free to use another nut butter if you’d like.
3. Stir in ½ cup graham cracker crumbs or in the peanut butter chocolate bars for a nice crunch.
4. You can take these to another level and make a graham cracker crumbs crust and then top the peanut butter. Just melt ½ stick of butter and mix in cup of crushed graham crackers. Baked it for 10 minutes at 350° F then let it cool completely before adding the peanut butter layer.
4. Top with chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, Reese’s pieces, Holiday M&M’s or chopped pecans or walnuts for a different option.
How to Make this Peanut Butter Bar Recipe
Step 1: Line a square 8-inch or 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, add the peanut butter and butter and blend together until smooth. Then add in the vanilla extract and salt and blend in as well.
Step 3 Next, slowly add in the powdered sugar a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl as you add it.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press it into an even layer.
Step 5: In a separate microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil and microwave for 30 seconds. Then stir and repeat for another 30-seconds then stir. Repeat for one more 30 second interval and stir. Be careful not to over heat the chocolate or it will seize and become too hard to spread.
Step 6: Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the peanut butter layer and spread evenly.
Step 7: Top with sprinkles while the chocolate is warm, if you’d like.
Step 8: Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill. Slice and enjoy.
Tips
- Be very careful not to use too much powdered sugar. Do not over pack the measuring cup. Use the spoon and level with a butter knife method and it be light and fluffy. If you use too much they will be crumbly.
- Slice with a sharp, bladed knife to cut the bars into your desired size. For nice clean cuts, run warm water over the knife and and wipe the knife clean with a paper towel between each cut.
- Make sure to ensure the peanut butter mixture is fully mixed up before you add in the powdered sugar. The dry ingredients will begin to form the dough, so make sure it is fully mixed.
- Use classic peanut butter instead of an all-natural peanut butter as that is more oily.
- You can double the recipe if you want to make a larger batch and use a 9×13 rectangle dish.
FAQ’s
These peanut butter bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Want to freeze some? Go right ahead and freeze in a freezer-safe container for 3-4 months. Then thaw on the counter or in the refrigerator when you are ready to eat.
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Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened (1 stick)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar start with 4 cups and add more if too wet.
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons festive sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Line an 8×8” or 9×9″ dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add the peanut butter and softened butter and blend on medium speed with an electric hand mixer until smooth. (or use the the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment).2 cups creamy peanut butter, ½ cup unsalted butter
- Next, add the vanilla extract and salt and blend to combine.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the powdered sugar mixing on low speed in between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you add. start with 4 cups but you may need a little more if the peanut butter is too wet.4-5 cups powdered sugar
- Mix just until the sugar is incorporated and the dough looks like large crumbles.
- Pour the dough to the prepared pan and press it down into an even layer. For an extra smooth top, place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper over top and press the dough down until flat.
- In medium microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil and heat for 30-seconds then stir and repeat for 2 other 30- intervals, stirring between each interval.1 ½ cups chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Pour the melted chocolate over top of the peanut butter mixture and spread it out evenly.
- Top with sprinkles while the chocolate is wet.2 tablespoons festive sprinkles
- Place the bars in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to set.
- Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
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.
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Tam
Very easy and fun for any age to make. Who doesn’t love peanut butter!
Debbielee
looks liike a great treat away from Reese’s ! home made is always best!
De
I love em! Simple to make . Big hit here. So good!1
Lisa
Is 5 cups of icing sugar an accurate measurement?
It seems like an awful lot.
Linda Dailey
My recipe is nearly the same as this one but i only use 3 3/4 cup powdered sugar.
Teresa
Clearly too much powered sugar!
Kansas
Can I use chocolate frosting instead of melted chocolate chips?
Peggy
Can you use crunchy peanut butter. Please reply as I am reach to make
Kim
Yummy but the chocolate cracked when I cut into squares. Any suggestions?
Linda
after you spread the chocolate on put in fridge for just few minute maybe 10 and cut it while the chocolate is still a bit soft
Ann
Why are they crumbly when eating them?
Sherri
It could be a little too much powdered sugar was added? I use a food scale to measure. If you don’t have a food scale, use the spoon and knife leveling method so too much doesn’t get packed into the measuring cup.:)
Belinda
Want to make but what is th best size pan to use 8 by 8 or 9by 9
Ann
For the peanut bars. Can I substitute the coconut oil with something else?
Sherri
Yes, you can use vegetable oil or canola oil if you’d like. Or omit it altogether. It helps the chocolate spread easier and gives a nice little shine. 🙂
Laura
Tastes very good, but were kind of crumbly. Made them messy to eat.I will try again with less powdered sugar .
Kathy
Can you share the recipe so I can print it with white background instead of black? Don’t want to waste that much black ink.
Janice
This recipe is so easy and everyone that likes peanut butter likes this. I had problems finding it. Thank you.
Glenna
If you don’t have coconut oil can you use a little canola oil?
Sherri
You sure can!!
Bobbie Fretwell
Looks delicious
Shawna
Awesome recipe
Lisa Leitzel
I can’t wait to try this with my grandchildren, we will have so much fun. Eating will be the best part.