No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are made with just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time. With layers of creamy peanut butter and chocolate, they taste like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in easy homemade bar form.
When I need an easy dessert and don’t want to turn on the oven, these no-bake peanut butter bars are one of the first recipes I make. They are the no-bake version of my peanut butter bars, which are family-favorites.
The no-bake version comes together with just 5 ingredients and take about 10 minutes of hands-on time, making them perfect for busy days, summer get-togethers, or whenever I’m craving something sweet. If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, these bars are hard to beat because they have all the flavor of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in an easy-to-make bar that’s perfect for sharing.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Salted butter: The salt in the butter helps to balance out the sweetness of the bars. If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the mixture.
- Peanut butter: For this recipe, you’ll want regular creamy peanut butter, like Jiff or Skippy. Natural peanut butter doesn’t work well in this recipe.
- Chocolate chips: For sweeter bars, you can use milk chocolate chips.
How to make no bake peanut butter bars
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and powdered sugar together.
Step 3: Stir in 1 cup of peanut butter.
Step 4: Press the peanut butter mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Step 5: Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter with the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth and well-combined.
Step 6: Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer, spreading as needed.
Step 7: Chill in the refrigerator until completely firm and set, about 2-3 hours.
Step 8: Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting into 2-inch squares. Serve chilled sprinkled with flaky sea salt if desired.
Recipe Tips!
- Pan: I like to use an 8×8 pan for slightly thicker bars. However, you could use a 9-inch square pan. You’ll just end up with thinner bars if you use that size pan.
- Line the pan: Parchment paper makes it easy to lift the bars out for slicing.
- Let them sit for a few minutes before serving: They’ll be easier to bite without being too firm.
- Freeze for later: These bars freeze beautifully. Store individual bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the freezer for later.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.
More no bake treat recipes!
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No Bake Peanut Butter Bar Recipe
Equipment
- 8×8 pan
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter not natural pb
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter not natural pb
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flaky sea salt optional
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and powdered sugar together.½ cup salted butter, 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- Stir in 1 cup of peanut butter.1 cup creamy peanut butter
- Press evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter with the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth and well-combined.2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer, spreading as needed.
- Chill in the refrigerator until completely firm and set, about 2-3 hours.
- Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting.
- Serve chilled sprinkled with flaky sea salt if desired.
Notes
- Salted butter: The salt in the butter helps to balance out the sweetness of the bars. If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon salt to the mixture.
- Peanut butter: For this recipe, you’ll want regular creamy peanut butter, like Jiff or Skippy. Natural peanut butter doesn’t work well in this recipe.
- Chocolate chips: For sweeter bars, you can use milk chocolate chips.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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