Description
Rich and creamy no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars with a buttery graham cracker base and smooth chocolate topping. An easy make-ahead dessert perfect for parties, holidays, or everyday treats.
Ingredients
¾ cup butter, melted
2 cups graham crackers, crushed
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ¼ cups creamy peanut butter
2 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang around the edges to lift out the finished bars.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, powdered sugar, and crushed graham crackers using a stand mixer or hand mixer until evenly blended.
- Add 1 ¼ cups creamy peanut butter and continue mixing until smooth and well combined.
- Transfer the peanut butter mixture to the prepared baking dish and press firmly into an even layer, making sure to fill the corners evenly.
- Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval, until the chocolate is just melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base and spread into an even layer.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until the bars are completely set.
- Let the bars sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before slicing to help prevent the chocolate topping from cracking.
- Lift the bars from the baking dish using the parchment paper, cut into 16 portions, and serve.
Notes
For extra crunch, substitute crunchy peanut butter for creamy peanut butter in the base or sprinkle chopped peanuts over the chocolate before chilling.
Milk chocolate chips can be used for a sweeter topping, while dark chocolate chips provide a deeper chocolate flavor.
Finely crushed digestive biscuits can be substituted for the graham crackers.
For a sweet-and-salty finish, sprinkle a small amount of flaky sea salt over the chocolate before chilling.
Conventional creamy peanut butter works best because natural peanut butter may make the base softer or oilier.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5–7 days, separating stacked layers with parchment or wax paper.
For longer storage, freeze individual bars in an airtight freezer-safe container with parchment between layers and thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
