Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars (Printable)
Rich no-bake peanut butter bars with decadent chocolate topping, ready in just 15 minutes of prep time.
# What You Need:
→ Base Layer
01 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
04 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
→ Chocolate Topping
05 - 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
06 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
# How-To Steps:
01 - Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine melted butter and 1 cup peanut butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs; stir until well mixed and a thick dough forms.
03 - Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
04 - In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
05 - Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter layer, spreading evenly to the edges.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the chocolate layer is completely firm.
07 - Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into 16 even squares.
08 - Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- No oven required, which means your kitchen stays cool and you get dessert in record time.
- The combination of a dense peanut butter base with that silky chocolate top is genuinely irresistible.
02 -
- Do not skip the parchment paper because these bars stick aggressively and you will end up scooping messy chunks instead of clean squares.
- Melting the chocolate in short intervals and stirring well between each one prevents scorching, which ruins the texture completely.
03 -
- Wet your fingers slightly when pressing the base into the pan to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.
- Score the chocolate lightly with a knife after about thirty minutes in the fridge so the final cuts come out perfectly clean.