Five ingredients and ten minutes are all you need for these no bake peanut butter bars.  Grab one quick: this crowd-pleasing favorite will disappear before your eyes!

The simplest foods are so often the best, right?  Like these five ingredient no bake peanut butter bars.

These are both one of the easiest possible desserts I have ever made, and also one of my most frequently requested treats.

Do you have a 9×13-inch pan?  Do you have a microwave safe bowl and a microwave?  How about a mixing spoon?

Congratulations: you’re all set to make no bake peanut butter bars!

Hardly a party or event goes by when friends do not ask me to bring along a batch of peanut butter bars.  I am always happy to oblige because of the minimal effort involved.  I’m pretty sure I could make them in my sleep!

And yet despite how easy these are, they are so popular.  There are never any leftovers after a party!  Crowd pleasing and easy peasy?  Now that’s a winning dessert!

The Easiest No Bake Dessert

Are you ready for this really long, complicated recipe?  Let’s go!

1. Melt butter in microwave.
2. Mix in sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter.
3. Spread this mixture in a pan.
4. Melt chocolate.
5. Pour melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture.
6. Wait for everything to cool.  <— the hardest step, BY FAR

Seriously, that’s it.  Five ingredients: butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, chocolate.  Ten minutes (plus cooling time).  Boom.

Using Other Nut Butters

People often ask if you can make these with other nut butters.  Yes, of course!  I mean, then they’ll be almond butter bars or cashew butter bars, but yes of course.  

Just make sure to mix the nut butter really, really well first if it’s the ‘natural’ kind that require stirring — and if the mixture feels too ‘greasy’ add an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of powdered sugar.

The world is your oyster when it comes to peanut butter bars!

Tips and Tricks for The Best No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

1. Not into peanut butter?  You can substitute in any other nut butter — almond butter, cashew butter, etc – or a combination of nut butters.
2. This works best with conventional (not the natural kind that separates) peanut butter.  If you are using a natural nut butter, stir the nut butter extremely well and add 1/2 cup of additional confectioners’ sugar to offset the oily texture of natural nut butters.
3. Grind the graham cracker crumbs well.  You can use a food processor or break the graham crackers by hand with a heavy object (like a rolling pin), but make sure the graham crackers crumbs are small and consistent; no big pieces.
4. When storing peanut butter bars, place a sheet of wax paper in between layers so the peanut butter from the bottom doesn’t stick to the chocolate on top of the bar beneath it.
5. Peanut butter bars can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated to keep the chocolate on top from melting, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Perfect for football parties, birthday parties, holiday parties, dinner parties, or any kind of party.  An after school treat, a sleepover, or just because it’s Tuesday and you want an easy, fun dessert.

10 minute, 5 ingredient, no bake peanut butter bars.  Perfect all the time.

More Easy No Bake Desserts:

• Sprinkle Rice Krispie Treats
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
• No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
• 3 Ingredient No Bake Oreo Truffles
• Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Dip
• All No Bake Dessert Recipes »

Continue to Content

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Five ingredients and ten minutes are all you need for these no bake peanut butter bars.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter or margarine
• 2 cups (227 grams) confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 cups (149 grams) graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup (270 grams) peanut butter, smooth or chunky
• 12 ounces (340 grams) semi-sweet baking chocolate (about 2 cups chocolate chips)

Instructions

1. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extended over sides of pan.
2. Melt butter in a large microwaveable bowl on high for 45 seconds, or until melted. Add sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter; mix well. Spread into prepared pan.
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a glass bowl tightly set over barely simmering water (or in the microwave for 30 second increments), stirring until thoroughly melted. Cool slightly, and pour over peanut butter mixture in pan.
4. Cut partially through dessert to mark 48 squares. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set.
5. Lift from pan, using foil handles. Run a knife under warm water, dry, and then cut all the way through dessert into squares. Store in airtight container.

Notes

1. Any other nut butter can be substituted for peanut butter, but if it's a 'natural' nut butter (i.e., requires stirring to mix in the oil) add an additional 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar to offset the greasiness from the additional oil.
2. Grind the graham cracker crumbs well using a food processor or beating with a heavy object.
3. When storing peanut butter bars, place a sheet of wax paper in between layers so the bars don't stick to each other.
4. Peanut butter bars can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Rectangular Springform Pan
• 
  Anchor Hocking Glass Mixing Bowl Set

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 bar
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 232Total Fat: 14.4gCarbohydrates: 23.6gProtein: 3.5g

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