These no bake peanut butter bars are an easy dessert made with simple pantry ingredients and no oven required. With a soft peanut butter layer made from graham cracker crumbs and a smooth chocolate layer on top, they're a great option when you want a quick treat without turning on the oven.
This is the kind of recipe that works well on a hot day, sets up in the fridge, and satisfies a serious sweet tooth.
Why This Recipe Works
- No baking required
- Simple ingredients and quick prep
- Classic chocolate and peanut butter flavor
- Easy to slice and serve
- Stores well for later
What You'll Need
- butter, softened to room temperature
- peanut butter
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- graham cracker crumbs
- chocolate chips
- peanut butter
How to Make No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Line a 9×9 square pan with parchment paper or lightly coat with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and peanut butter until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
- Add the graham cracker crumbs and mix until fully combined. The peanut butter mixture should be thick and easy to press.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together until smooth, stirring every 20-30 seconds.
- Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer, smoothing the top of the chocolate.
- Refrigerate for a couple of hours, or until set.
- Lift out using the parchment paper and slice into bars.
If you enjoy easy no bake desserts like this, these chocolate dipped cookie dough balls are another simple treat to try.
Helpful Tips
- Use regular peanut butter for the best texture. Natural peanut butter can be too oily for this recipe.
- Milk chocolate or dark chocolate both work well for the topping.
- For cleaner slices, chill the bars fully before cutting.
- A small pinch of sea salt on top of the chocolate adds balance if you like a sweet-salty finish.
Storage
Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. These bars can also be frozen and thawed as needed.
📖 Recipe
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1 cup butter - softened to room temperature
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
Chocolate Layer
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- ¼ cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper (for easy removal) or lightly coat with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix the butter and peanut butter until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar until combined.
- Add the graham cracker crumbs and mix until a thick dough forms.
- Press the peanut butter mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together, stirring until smooth.
- Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
- Lift out using parchment paper and slice into bars.
Notes
- Regular peanut butter works best for texture and firmness.
- Chill fully before slicing for clean edges.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
