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Easy no bake peanut bars loaded with Reese’s Pieces and topped with a milk chocolate topping! These are a cinch to make and a total crowd pleaser!
If you are new to baking, or maybe it’s too hot to turn the oven on, then this dessert is for you. I love the simplicity of no bake treats, but also the sheer fact of I kept to keep the oven off. For these bars you get to use your microwave and food processor to get the job done.
So let’s talk about these bars shall we? I wanted something simple and a total crowd pleaser. And what crowd doesn’t love peanut butter and chocolate? I knew these bars would be a huge hit. And I was totally right.
These bars really hit the whole peanut butter thing out of the park. I decided peanut butter wasn’t enough I wanted to add Reese’s Pieces. I seriously love Reese’s Pieces. Anytime I go to the movies, I have to have to have to get a box of these little candies. I’m kind of obsessed. I love the little crunch it gives to the bars too. And when sprinkled on top- SO. DARN. PRETTY.
What Ingredients Do I Need To Make These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars?
These bars are so simple too. Only 6 ingredients to make them! Shut the front door. Yup.
- Butter – I always recommend using unsalted butter when baking so you can control the amount of salt. So I add a pinch of salt. But you can swap it out and use salted butter this time. Just don’t add the pinch of salt.
- Graham crackers – You are going to process these into fine crumbs with your food processor. If you don’t have one, then put the graham crackers in a plastic bag and smash them with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
- Powdered sugar – If you are really strapped and have none you can pulverize granulated sugar in a food processor to make your own.
- Peanut butter – I have only made this with traditional store-bought peanut butter like Skippy, or Jif. I haven’t tried it with a natural peanut butter. You will actually use peanut butter in the base and the topping.
- Chocolate – You can really use any type of chocolate chips here.
- Reese’s Pieces – OK yes you might say these are optional. But then again, are they?
Related: You might also like the rest of these 5 Ingredient Desserts
How To Make These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Make the peanut butter base: You just need to melt the butter, turn your graham crackers into crumbs using your food processor, and combine those two ingredients with the powdered sugar and peanut butter.
Press into a pan- That whole mixture gets pressed into a pan. I made two batches of these bars. One in an 8×8 pan, and one batch in a 9×9 pan. With the 9×9 pan you get a few more bars, but you get get thicker bars with the 8×8 pan. So choose wisely, my friend 😉
Make the chocolate topping – Once the mixture has been pressed into the pan of your choice, then you get to send these bars over the edge with a chocolate topping.
You need to simply melt your chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave in 30-second intervals in the microwave. Be sure to stir in between each addition. Then simply spread this mixture on top of your bars.
I then sprinkled Reese’s pieces on top. Because, why not?
If you are a total baking nerd myself, you can nerd out on this chocolate candy dipping post I recently wrote.
What kind of chocolate should I use?
I have made these with milk chocolate chips before because I wanted to stick with that classic milk chocolate and peanut butter cup combo.
But as you can see in the photos, I have also made these and love these with semi-sweet (dark) chocolate. You could even use white chocolate! Ooh, now that could be fun. Might have to try making those next.
You need to simply melt your chocolate chips and butter in the microwave in 30-second intervals in the microwave. Be sure to stir in between each addition.Then simply spread this mixture on top of your bars. I then sprinkled more Reese’s pieces on top. If you are a total baking nerd myself, you can nerd out on this chocolate candy dipping post I recently wrote.
Tips For Making These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Plan Ahead. These bars need some time to chill in the fridge, about 3 hours (but can be done overnight). So make sure to plan ahead and not make these last minute!
- Utilize That Freezer. Plan really, really ahead and make these then store them in your freezer! You can make a batch and store them in your freeze up to 2 months in advance. You can also cut them first before freezing. I recommend storing between layers of parchment paper.
- Use a hot knife. To cut them that it is. I let them sit for a few minutes when I take them out of the fridge (5-10 minutes) then run a knife under hot water, wipe it off, and then cut them to get a clean cut.
For More No Bake Recipes:
- Classic No Bake Cookies Recipe
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
- Easy No Bake Cheesecake
- Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
- Oreo Cake Balls
Tools To Make These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars:
- 9×9 baking dish (or 8×8 baking pan)
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons <– my favorite thing ever to use!!!
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No Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
For the peanut butter bars
- 1/2 cup (1 sticks, 113 g) unsalted butter melted
- pinch salt
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs about 8 full sheets
- 2 cups (240 g) confectioners' (powdered) sugar
- 1 cup (270 g) creamy peanut butter (not natural style)
For the topping
- 1 cup (180 g) semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
- 3 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces for topping the bars
Instructions
- Line a 8×8 or 9×9 square baking pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) melted butter, pinch of salt, graham cracker crumbs, and powdered sugar together until combined. Stir in 1 cup of peanut butter. Spread into prepared baking pan.
- In a small bowl, melt together the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. You can do this in the microwave in 30 second intervals, or in a small saucepan on the stovetop over low heat. Spread over peanut butter layer. Top with Reese's pieces.
- Chill in the refrigerator until completely firm, at least 2 hours. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting.
Video
Notes
- Bars stay fresh for 5-7 days stored in the refrigerator. Serve chilled. (Setting them out for a few hours at room temperature for serving is OK.) Bars can be frozen up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Comments & Reviews
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