Name: No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups creamy peanut butter; 2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar; 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Using just 5 ingredients, these easy no bake peanut butter bars are a rich and decadent treat that taste exactly like homemade Reese’s peanut butter cups!

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These no bake peanut butter bars are an old-school cafeteria recipe from back in the days when the lunch ladies would come in at the break of dawn and set to making the day’s meals from scratch. These ladies were our mothers away from home, always there to make sure we got enough to eat! Peanut butter treats were usually in abundance since peanut butter was a government commodity, provided in large quantities to lunchrooms.

This is a great homemade dessert recipe that uses only 5 ingredients, requires no baking, and ends up tasting like what a Reese’s peanut butter cup aspires to be. It features a rich and thick peanut butter layer that’s boosted with sugar, vanilla extract, and butter flavors. Then it’s topped with a decadent chocolate layer. This chocolate peanut butter bar recipe results in treats that are fudgy, creamy, and will disappear in an instant!

Recipe Ingredients

Creamy peanut butter
Confectioner’s sugar
Brown sugar
Unsalted butter
Semi-sweet chocolate chips

You don’t have to have a whole tub of peanut butter like I have pictured here so don’t worry about that. My family just happens to think peanut butter is the best thing since… well, peanut butter, so I tend to buy it in large quantities.

How To Make No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Place all ingredients into a large bowl.

Microwave until the butter and peanut butter are both melted. This will take about a minute or so.

NOTE: Check it after 45 seconds and make sure though because microwaves vary so greatly.

This is our melted “stuff”.

Now take a spoon and give it a really good stir.

NOTE: At first this peanut butter bar mixture will seem like a big old mess, but after several stirs, it will all come together and leave the sides of the bowl.

Now transfer your peanut butter mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 pan.

Pat it out into the pan with your hands.

Time to crank up that microwave again! Pour the entire package of chocolate chips into a bowl and microwave them at 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until completely melted.

Pour the melted chocolate chips over your peanut butter mixture.

Spread it all around until the top is evenly covered.

Now the hard part: waiting for these no bake peanut butter bars to harden.

TIP: You can do this at room temperature or you can do like me and place it in the fridge for about half an hour or so.

Cut into bars and serve.

Enjoy!

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in your cookie jar on the counter or in the refrigerator, whatever cranks your tractor. They will last up to 1 week.
These no bake dessert bars also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Recipe Notes

You can add a cup of graham cracker crumbs to your peanut butter layer for added flavor.
I don’t recommend using crunchy peanut butter, natural peanut butter, or any natural nut butter like almond butter in this recipe. They just don’t have the same consistency as processed smooth peanut butter like Jif and Skippy.
If you like, you can use an 8×8 baking pan or a 9×9 pan. The cooling time will be the same.
While I prefer milk chocolate chips, feel free to top your bars with melted dark chocolate.
To make the chocolate peanut butter bars easy to remove from the pan, line it with parchment paper you can lift and remove with ease.

And here are some peanut butter recipes you might like:

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Brownies with Peanut Butter Fudge Icing

Refrigerator Peanut Butter & Milk Granola Bars