Desserts
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
★★★★½ (4.7)
Rich peanut butter filling on a graham cracker base, topped with a smooth chocolate layer -- these taste like a giant peanut butter cup and need zero oven time.
- No oven, no baking -- just mix, press, chill, and cut
- Tastes like a homemade giant peanut butter cup
- Ready with only 20 minutes of hands-on work
- Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides.
- In a large bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, 3/4 cup of the peanut butter, melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until a thick, uniform dough forms -- it should hold together when pressed between your fingers.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the flat bottom of a measuring cup to pack it down smooth.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter.
- Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring after each, until fully melted and smooth -- this usually takes 60-90 seconds total. Do not overheat or the chocolate can seize and turn grainy.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base and spread into an even layer with a spatula, all the way to the edges of the pan.
- While the chocolate is still soft, sprinkle the chopped peanuts and flaky sea salt evenly over the top for garnish.
- Refrigerate uncovered for at least 2 hours, until the chocolate top is fully firm to the touch.
- Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang and set on a cutting board.
- Cut into 16 squares using a sharp knife warmed under hot water and wiped dry between cuts, for clean edges through the firm chocolate layer.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Microwave the chocolate topping in short bursts and stir between each -- overheating melted chocolate makes it seize into a grainy clump instead of staying glossy.
Warming the knife under hot water before slicing keeps the chocolate layer from cracking into shards.
Nutrition (per serving)
260Calories
5gProtein
16gFat
27gCarbs
2gFiber
150mgSodium
Nutrition information is estimated and provided for convenience only.
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