These no bake peanut butter bars are a quick and easy dessert to make with no oven time required. With an irresistible peanut butter base topped with rich chocolate, my family calls them ‘homemade Reese’s’!
Best Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
There is nothing better in the world than a dessert filled with both chocolate and peanut butter. Some of my favorite treats include this amazing combination like these bars, buckeye candies and Oreo peanut butter pie.
I am so excited to share the recipe for these no bake peanut butter bars with you. If you haven’t made these yet, add them to your baking list ASAP!
I found this recipe in my grandma’s recipe box a couple years ago and have been making them ever since. They taste pretty dang close to a Reese’s bar… but in my opinion BETTER!
Other must-try peanut butter and chocolate desserts include lunch lady peanut butter bars, peanut butter blossoms, muddy buddies and no bake cookies.
Why This Recipe Works
- Classic combination: If you are a chocolate peanut butter bar lover, you will love this easy dessert bar recipe!
- Easy to make: All you need is 10 minutes, there is no baking required and did I mention they taste like a peanut butter cup?!
- Year round treat: Holidays, lunchboxes, last minute dessert request, and especially great in the summer since no oven is required!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Salted butter: Your butter will need to be melted. If you use unsalted butter, you will need to add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Graham cracker crumbs: I use Keebler graham cracker crumbs, but you can make your own crumbs with approximately 16 sheets of graham crackers.
- Light brown sugar: A little brown sugar gives these a deeper flavor.
- Powdered sugar: Also called confectioners sugar and dissolves easily!
- Creamy peanut butter: You will need this in both the bars and topping.
- Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract for best taste.
- Milk chocolate chips: Milk chocolate will most make these bars taste like Reese’s cup candy, although you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate.
Substitutions and Variations
- Graham crackers: Try crushed Oreos, Golden Graham cereal, Cheerios, vanilla wafers, or even Teddy Bear grahams.
- Nut butter: If there is an allergy in the house, use another nut butter like almond butter, cashew or sunbutter.
- Topping: Add some chopped nuts, crushed pretzels or even crushed Reese’s for the top.
- Baking chips: Use your favorite! Anything works from butterscotch chips to even a combination of milk and white chocolate chips.
How to Make No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
This is the easiest dessert you will make, even easier than peanut butter balls!
- Gather your ingredients. Keep all your ingredients close by as these chocolate peanut bars are simple to make in only 10 minutes.
- Peanut butter layer. Mix the butter, graham crackers, sugars, peanut butter and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. If it’s too soft and runny, add in a little more powdered sugar. Then press the mixture into a 9×13″ baking dish and refrigerate.
- Chocolate layer. Melt the chocolate chips in microwave-safe bowl or over a double broiler on the stove. Stir until smooth, then pour on top of the peanut butter layer. Spread evenly with a spatula.
- Chill. Place bars back in the fridge until the chocolate has hardened (this usually takes 30 minutes to an hour). You could also place in the freezer for a little to speed up the process. Once hardened, cut into squares.
Expert Tips
- Mixture too runny: If you’re peanut butter mixture is on the runnier side, try adding in 1/4 cup powdered sugar, mixing well and see if that helps (if not, add a second 1/4 powdered sugar to the mix). Or if your house is warm, refrigerating it should do the trick!
- Gluten free: For a gluten allergy, try substituting the graham cracker crumbs for crushed gluten free crackers, cookies or cornflakes. I’ve never tried this myself, but a few followers have and said they turned out great.
- Slicing tip: Use a plastic knife to easily cut the bars. It makes a super smooth cut. I’d wipe the knife clean with a paper towel in between each cut.
- Cut the recipe in half: Feeding a smaller crowd? Just cut this recipe for no bake peanut butter bars in half and use an 8-inch pan.
- Line your pan: This will make for easier bar removal! Just line with foil or parchment paper.
FAQs
No, I don’t think that would work as natural peanut butter you need to stir as the peanut butter and oil separates easily. Use a traditional no stir peanut butter like Jif, Skippy or your favorite.
I think that will work for the bottom layer, although for the top layer a smoother peanut butter may be preferred.
If you don’t have graham crackers on hand or just want to try something different in these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars, try a variety of cereals including cheerios, golden grahams, or even golden Oreo’s. If you are in a different country, digestive biscuits may also work!
I sure do think so and my family backs me up! If you opt to use semi-sweet chocolate chips they will taste less like a Reese’s. So if you want that candy bar taste, opt to use milk chocolate chips for the bars topping.
Storage
- Store: Store peanut butter chocolate bars in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. I’ve found that they hold their shape the best when chilled as well as taste the most like a reese’s peanut butter cup!
- Freeze: After your homemade Reese’s bars are chilled, slice and place them in a freezer safe container or bag for 1-2 months. Thaw and enjoy!
Love no bake desserts? No-bake cornflake cookies, this homemade granola bar recipe, cheesecake dip and no-bake scotcheroos are a few family favorites!
More Peanut Butter and Chocolate Recipes
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Homemade Reese’s Bars Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter , melted
- 2 cups keebler graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter , plus 1 Tablespoon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 11 ounce milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a medium-sized bowl. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If it's too soft, add a little more powdered sugar. Press into a 9×13" pan and place in the refrigerator.
- Melt chocolate chips with 1 Tablespoon peanut butter in the microwave (at 50% power) for 1-2 minutes or cook on the stove over a double broiler. Stir chocolate and pour over the peanut butter mixture. Spread chocolate with a spatula. To even out chocolate, tap pan on the counter.
- Refrigerate bars until chocolate has hardened (about 30 minutes). Allow to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cutting so the chocolate doesn't crack. Enjoy!
Notes
- These are best kept stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
- To get a smooth cut, use a plastic knife.
- Can sub with almond butter if there is a peanut allergy in your house.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I think these would be perfect as a Christmas holiday treat, for friends. I’m not going to wait that long to make them heading to my kitchen now, I want to know if they can be cut with my mini Christmas cookie cutters. Well really I just want to eat one now.
I made these tn but when I went to spread the chocolate it was not spreading easily therefore the peanut butter mixture was also spreading with it almost like I should’ve put the base in the fridge for awhile then it would’ve been harder and allowed the chocolate to spread out and look better. What happened?
It depends, your home may have been more warm or humid than when we made them. I’d definitely put the peanut butter layer in the fridge next time if you see that happening again. Hope this helps! :)
Hi I was wondering what the Carb and serving size was for the peanut butter no bake bars, I made these but unless I know the Carb and serving I can’t eat them :( thank you for time have a good day :)
Hi Rachael! I’m sorry but I don’t know the carb and serving size. There should be a website to help you find that information! :)
Hi.
I’m from the UK and never heard of these crackers. Could I use digestive biscuits instead. I really want to make them as they look delicious.
Thanks
Hi Kim! I haven’t tried using digestive biscuits, but I searched them online and I think they would make a good substitute. :)
Is the crust not mixed and put in the pan separately from the peanut butter mixture?
Nope, it is all mixed together! :)
We loved these!! We used the Honey Maid brand of graham crackers, and they tasted even better than the others. I am making some now for a movie night with friends. Thanks so much. Oh, one question,…….. some ladies from my neighborhood asked for the recipe and I was wondering if I could give it out?
Thanks so much
I would be happy if you shared it with your neighborhood friends! Thanks for your kind comment Christina. I’m glad you enjoyed these!
Hi, I’m from the UK, so instead of Graham Crackers, I placed in HobNob biscuits (which is a wheat nutty biscuit)…taste so much like Reese Choc it’s great! I’m giving them to my sister who has just given birth for the first time!
Thanks for your comment Lisa! I’m glad they turned out well for you. :)
Awesome they were amazing! Thanks so much. But I have a question… What is the best sub for peanunt butter?????
I’m glad you liked them! I haven’t tried substituting the peanut butter, but you could try almond butter. :)
I’ve been making candies like these for years. Long before Facebook or blogging were ever heard of. The only difference between your recipe and mine is the preparation and name. Mine are just Peanut Butter bars.
I’ve also seen the same recipe in books and on TV cook shows. My question is, What makes this recipe yours that bloggers have to link to your sight to share it? Not trying to be contrary, just curious.
Hi Sharin! This recipe is a family favorite passed down from my grandmother. I had never seen it in a recipe book or TV show, but wouldn’t be surprised since these are a favorite in my family! :)
Want to make these for Easter. Just wondering, the ingredients in this recipe, will that be enough for such a big pan or should I double it? Also, when melting chocolate, do you have to add melted butter?
Hi! This recipe is enough for a 9×13 pan. You don’t have to add melted butter but you can if you want to! :)
likes peanut butter delicious recipes :)
I’d like to do this as a make ahead before a vacation. Do they freeze? Or could they be made a week in advance and kept in the fridge and still be fine?
Hi! I’ve never tried freezing them, I think that the chocolate would crack. I would probably make them within 2-3 days before an event for the best quality. :)
I found your recipe on Pinterest and just had to try them out. Sure enough the whole family loved them. I was wondering if you would mind if I posted your recipe on my blog?
I’m glad your whole family loved them Cindy! Of course you can post it, just make sure to include a link back to my post! :)
Can you buy the crumbs or do you buy the crackers and smash them?
Hi Samantha! You can buy them or smash them, both ways work! The kind I used were Keebler graham cracker crumbs! :)
LOVE these! My kids love them too! Plan to make them for our swim team this week!!!
I hope you enjoy them! They are so YUMMY, I need to make them again soon!
Just made these! So so easy and delicious!! Didn’t have 2 full cups of graham crackers so I did 1 cup of graham crackers, 1 cup of pretzel crumbs . Turned out great!
I love these Reeses bars, I’m so glad you enjoyed them too! Thanks for your comment Jessica! :)
Delicious
This looks so yummy! Can’t wait to try it myself and blog about it. My niece has peanut allergies though. I was wondering if that part can be omitted or is there an alternative you can suggest?
Ooops! Silly of me, the peanut butter is one of the main ingredients… LOL! So I guess, is there an alternative?
Maybe you could see if she can have almond butter or cookie butter, those should work great too! :)
Thanks! :)