Peanut butter bars with a layer of chocolate on top, stacked on a ceramic plate

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

These easy to make No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars taste just like a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup.  They use only six ingredients and can be prepared and chilled in less than an hour.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are so delicious and satisfying that if you keep a few of these in the freezer they will put an end to those peanut butter cravings once and for all! These Peanut Butter Bars are topped with a delicious layer of chocolate that makes them taste just like a peanut butter cup.  But unlike store bought, these peanut butter bars use only six ingredients.  And, like some of my other favorite dessert recipes, there is no baking involved.

I have to admit that once in awhile, I need to indulge myself with a decadent treat.  And to me, nothing tastes better than a chocolaty, peanut filled snack.  A friend of mine from Australia once told me that Americans are obsessed with Peanut Butter, but here in Japan they love it too.  In fact, I just read this article about how people in the UK love it as well. Admittedly, peanut butter is not as widely eaten in Japan, but it is growing in popularity due to its great taste and awesome health benefits.

The peanut butter in these bars is loaded with graham crackers and powdered sugar which all makes the peanut butter sweeter than plain ground peanuts, much more similar to a Japanese treat known as “peanut butter cream.”  This is a whipped peanut butter spread and much more commonly found in Japan than organic peanut butters.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars will satisfy those urges for peanut butter and chocolate, but they are definitely not a health food, so be sure to enjoy them in moderation.  I usually make a pan, cut it into bars, and keep them in the freezer until ready to eat.  The freezer keeps them fresh and crispy, and you can have a bar close at hand when you are looking for the perfect treat.

So the next time you want to indulge your peanut butter cravings, give this recipe a try and let me know what you think in the comments section, below.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

These chocolaty peanut butter bars are so easy to make.  I use a food processor to smooth out the peanut butter mixture, but a whisk or a hand mixer will also work.  You can melt the butter first to make it easier if you are whisking by hand.  Bu sure that the graham crackers are completely chopped into crumbs, the peanut butter mixture should be smoothed out before refrigerating.  You can use a double boiler or the microwave to melt the chocolate.  You can use semi-sweet chocolate if the milk chocolate is too sweet.

PREP COOKING YIELD
1 hour Makes 12 bars
PREP 1 hour
COOKING
YIELD Makes 12 bars
Peanut butter bars with a layer of chocolate on top, stacked on a ceramic plate

Ingredients:

Peanut Butter Bars

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered (confectionery) sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers (about 12 crackers)
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Chocolate Topping

  • 1 1/4 cup melting chocolate
  • 3 TBSPs peanut butter

No bake peanut butter bar ingredients Lined up on a board

Instructions:

  • Blend the butter, peanut butter, graham crackers, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor until creamy.

Blend the ingredients for the bars in a food processor

  • Pour into an 8 x 8 baking pan over a sheet of parchment paper.

Spreading the peanut butter bar mix in a foil pan

  • Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes to harden.
  • While waiting, melt the chocolate and 3 TSPS peanut butter in a double boiler.

Melting chocolate and peanut butter together in a double boiler

  • Remove the peanut butter bars from the refrigerator, pour the melted chocolate on top, and spread evenly over the top.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

No bake peanut butter bars in the foil pan after the chocolate has hardened.

  • Cut into bars and serve.  Store any remaining bars in the refrigerator or freezer.
Close up of a No Bake Peanut Butter Bar on a plate.
No Bake Peanut Butter Bar

Notes:

  • These bars are best kept refrigerated or frozen.  The peanut butter will soften at room temperature.

 

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