Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are perfect in lunch boxes or for an after-school snack! They will be a welcome treat wherever they are served.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
With just a few ingredients and an easy NO BAKE recipe, you can have these tasty treats waiting for your favorite little ones (or not so little ones) when they get home from school!
Is there a better flavor combination than chocolate and peanut butter? I am such a huge fan!! 😍 Recipes like my Kit-Kat Cake, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Peanut Butter Balls, No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie, Giant Peanut Butter Cookie with Chocolate Chunks, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl more than prove my love for this tasty combination of flavors!
When I need a quick and easy no-bake recipe that fulfills my craving for chocolate and peanut butter, I often find myself turning to this recipe. I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand.
Not only are these tasty little treats great in lunch boxes, but they’re popular bake sale items. When the holidays roll around, they make an easy addition to cookie trays too!
How to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- salted butter – You may use unsalted butter in this recipe. See FAQs below.
- graham cracker crumbs
- creamy peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter is best. Avoid using oily peanut butter as it will negatively impact the base of the recipe and will change the texture needed for the bar. Crunchy peanut butter may also have a negative impact on the consistency of the base.
- powdered sugar
- semi-sweet chocolate chips – dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips are also great.
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch cooking pan (or similar size) with parchment paper.
2. Melt butter and allow to cool for just a few minutes.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine your graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, powdered sugar, and a cup of peanut butter. Once combined, the mixture should have a sticky, dough-like texture.
4. Place the peanut butter mixture into a 9×13-inch baking pan and evenly press so that the peanut butter mixture is even and flat across the surface.
5. Melt the chocolate chips and remaining 1/2-cup peanut butter together making sure you stir until the combination is smooth and creamy in appearance.
6. Spread the chocolate mixture over the previously pressed peanut butter mixture. Ensure the chocolate is evenly spread across the top.
7. Place the chocolate peanut butter bars in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1-2 hours.
8. Once chilled, remove them from the pan and carefully cut them into equal pieces using a long sharp knife. Serve chilled.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars FAQs
– Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week using an airtight container. It is recommended that you separate the bars using parchment paper to avoid sticking together.
– Freeze for up to 3 months using an airtight container. Be sure to use parchment to separate the bars. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight and serve.
You may use unsalted butter in this recipe. Add 1/4-teaspoon of salt during step 3 as you mix the base ingredients.
Recipe Tips
- You can also use an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch square dish that will create thicker bars.
- Make sure to line your baking pan or square dish with parchment paper so you can easily remove the bars after chilling.
- For best results, do not overheat the butter. Instead, heat it just to the melting point.
- You can use the stovetop or microwave to melt the chocolate and peanut butter. If using a stovetop, use a saucepan and heat-safe bowl or double boiler to blend the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Using peanut butter in the topping gives the chocolate a creamier texture and helps when cutting the bars, so the chocolate doesn’t crack.
- Make sure to let the bars chill in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours before serving. Alternatively, you can make them the night before and let them chill overnight.
- To cut the bars, carefully use a long sharp, or serrated knife.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter divided
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch cooking pan (or similar size) with parchment paper.
- Melt butter and allow to cool for just a few minutes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine your graham cracker crumbs (for best results, do not overheat butter. Heat just to the melting point.), melted butter, powdered sugar, and a cup of peanut butter. Once combined, the mixture should have a sticky, dough-like texture.
- Place the peanut butter mixture into a 9×13-inch baking pan and evenly press so that the peanut butter mixture is even and flat across the surface.
- Melt the chocolate chips and the remaining 1/2-cup peanut butter together, making sure you stir until the combination is smooth and creamy in appearance.
- Spread the chocolate mixture over the previously pressed peanut butter mixture. Ensure the chocolate is evenly spread across the top.
- Place the chocolate peanut butter bars in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1-2 hours.
- Once chilled, remove them from the pan and carefully cut them into equal pieces using a long sharp knife.
- Serve chilled. Do not keep the bars out for long periods; refrigerate after 2 hours.
Notes
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week using an airtight container. It is recommended that you separate the bars using parchment paper to avoid sticking together.
- Freeze for up to 3 months using an airtight container. Be sure to use parchment to separate the bars. To thaw, place in the refrigerator overnight and serve.
TIPS
- You can also use an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch square dish that will create thicker bars.
- Make sure to line your baking pan or square dish with parchment paper so you can easily remove the bars after chilling.
- For best results, do not overheat the butter. Instead, heat it just to the melting point.
- You can use the stovetop or microwave to melt the chocolate and peanut butter. If using a stovetop, use a saucepan and heat-safe bowl or double boiler to blend the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Using peanut butter in the topping gives the chocolate a creamier texture and helps when cutting the bars, so the chocolate doesn’t crack.
- Make sure to let the bars chill in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours before serving. Alternatively, you can make them the night before and let them chill overnight.
- To cut the bars, carefully use a long sharp, or serrated knife.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on August 13, 2014. Updated on November 4, 2021.
Jamie – yum! Who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate? These look wonderful – thanks for sharing and pinning! Have a wonderful day!
All I want to know is how you get to be a Dove testmaker?! That sounds like a pretty awesome job! 🙂 This is my kind of dessert.
These look scrumptious! Anything with chocolate & peanut butter is my kind of treat 😉
I agree with Lizzy – I want in on this gig 😉 Pinned, these look awesome.
How do you home school AND have time to make these yummy bars…seriously?! You are my HERO!! These look amazing, my friend!
Oh wow…those look simply perfect!
Blessings, Catherine.
These look so good!!! =)
Oh chocolate and peanut butter are the best! These bars look fantastic!
I am definitely making these! They look AMAZING! And what is better than peanut butter and chocolate! Can't wait to try them! Pinning now!