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Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Bars
Easy peanut butter bars recipe with a rich chocolate layer, ideal for quick dessert, parties, or bake sales.
Peanut butter bars are a compact, layered dessert bar characterized by a soft, sweet peanut-butter base and a thin chocolate topping that sets into a firm shell. The recipe typically combines creamy peanut butter with butter, powdered sugar, and graham-cracker or cookie crumbs to create a dense, sliceable foundation, which is then finished with a simple ganache-style layer of melted chocolate chips and additional peanut butter for smoothness. Chilled until solid and cut into squares, these bars offer a balanced contrast of salty nuttiness and rich chocolate, making them a popular make-ahead treat for potlucks, bake sales, lunch-box desserts, and holiday cookie trays throughout the year.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Bars
No-bake and nearly foolproof, this recipe relies on pantry staples and a single mixing bowl, so you can satisfy a dessert craving without heating up the kitchen. It’s also endlessly adaptable—think gluten-free crackers, crunchy add-ins, or a drizzle of white chocolate—letting you tailor each batch to different tastes and dietary needs.
Prep Time
10 minutes
10 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time
75 minutes
75 minutes
Ingredients
Unsalted butter (melted) – 1 cup / 2 sticks / 226 g
- Graham cracker crumbs – 2 cups / about 14 full cracker sheets / 200 g
- Confectioners’ (powdered) sugar – 2 cups / 240 g
- Creamy peanut butter – 1¼ cups total (1 cup for the base + ¼ cup for the topping)
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – 1½ cups / about 270 g
- Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon (optional but gives deeper flavor)
- Flaky sea salt – a light pinch for finishing (optional, for sweet-salty contrast)
Method
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl
- Combine the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and one cup of peanut butter in a mixing bowl
- Stir the mixture until it forms a thick, uniform dough
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the greased dish
- Put the chocolate chips and the remaining peanut butter in a small saucepan
- Warm the saucepan over low heat
- Stir constantly until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth
- Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter base
- Spread the chocolate to cover the entire surface
- Refrigerate the pan until the chocolate layer is firm
- Remove the chilled slab from the refrigerator
- Cut the slab into bars with a sharp knife
- Serve the peanut butter chocolate layer bars
Nutrition (whole recipe)
Calories
6670 kcal Protein
108 g Fat
431 g Carbs
640 g Fiber
42 g Sugar
475 g
6670 kcal Protein
108 g Fat
431 g Carbs
640 g Fiber
42 g Sugar
475 g
Notes
Microwave the peanut butter–butter mixture until just fluid; the warm blend coats every crumb so the bars set uniformly without dry streaks. Chill the pan until fully firm, then slice with a hot, wiped-dry knife for bakery-clean edges. For extra pop, replace a quarter of the crumbs with crushed pretzels and finish the chocolate layer with a pinch of flaky sea salt.
why this recipe
This peanut butter bars recipe is worth adding to your repertoire because it strikes a remarkable balance between nostalgic comfort and modern convenience, delivering rich, nutty flavor with minimal effort. Each bite offers the irresistible creaminess of peanut butter seamlessly fused with a tender, cookie-like base and a delicate chocolate finish, creating a treat that feels both indulgent and wholesome. The straightforward preparation means you can whip up a batch in minutes, yet the results taste as if they came from an artisan bakery, making them ideal for weeknight cravings, bake-sale triumphs, or an impressive last-minute dessert for guests. The recipe’s dependable texture and crowd-pleasing taste ensure that once you try it, these bars will become a go-to staple in your baking rotation.
FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use natural peanut butter instead of regular creamy peanut butter in these bars?
Yes, you can, but choose a well-stirred natural peanut butter that’s homogenous and not overly oily. Because natural varieties are thinner and less sweet, the base may set a bit softer; if it seems loose, mix in 2–3 extra tablespoons of graham crumbs or powdered sugar to firm it up before pressing it into the pan.
How should I store the finished peanut butter bars, and how long will they stay fresh?
Once the bars are fully chilled and cut, layer them in an airtight container with parchment between rows and keep them refrigerated; they’ll stay fresh, firm, and flavorful for about 1 week. For longer storage, freeze the sealed bars for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge (or at room temperature for 15–20 minutes) before serving.
Can I make these bars dairy-free, and what substitutions work best?
Absolutely—you can make the bars dairy-free with two simple swaps. Replace the melted butter 1:1 with a firm, dairy-free alternative such as refined coconut oil or a high-fat vegan buttery stick, and use dairy-free chocolate chips (most dark varieties or brands labeled “vegan”). The texture and set remain virtually unchanged, so you’ll still get the same rich, sliceable layers.