No-bake chocolate peanut butter bars are thick, rich, and decadent. Originally published in 2013 and made from only 5 simple ingredients, these are a delicious treat anytime of the year. No oven required!

stack of no bake chocolate peanut butter bars

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It’s no secret that many bakers love baking with peanut butter. Like these peanut butter cookies, a recipe that has lived on my site for years and serves as the base for so many of our other peanut butter favorites like peanut butter blossoms. But what about NO BAKING with peanut butter? No bake chocolate peanut butter bars combine an alluring flavor combination that we all love: chocolate and peanut butter. In this easy dessert recipe, velvety smooth chocolate sits on top of a thick layer of peanut buttery goodness. The peanut butter layer tastes remarkably similar to the center of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

The best part of all? They’re made from just 5 simple ingredients!

Overhead photo of no bake chocolate peanut butter bars

These no-bake peanut butter bars are a family favorite recipe. Every Christmas, my mom made a large tray of mini pecan pies, coconut macaroons, snowball cookies, and these glorious peanut butter bars. The competition was high, but you can imagine which dessert disappeared first.

I look forward to these bars every holiday season, so I quit limiting them to December. We make these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars all year long and they always cause a frenzy. In fact, I’ve never regretted making a double batch!

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Bars

Taste like peanut butter cups
Only 5 ingredients
Quick to make and even quicker to disappear
Cut them as large or small as you want
Freeze beautifully
No oven needed
Chocolate + peanut butter (!!)

No bake peanut butter bars mixture in glass bowl

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar Ingredients

There are only 5 ingredients required for no bake chocolate peanut butter bars and I bet you have each one in your kitchen right now.

Butter: Butter binds the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. You can use salted or unsalted butter. If using unsalted, add 1/4 teaspoon salt when you add the peanut butter.
Graham Cracker Crumbs: Graham cracker crumbs add structure and texture. You need about 8 full-sheet graham crackers for 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs. If desired, use gluten free graham crackers to make these a gluten free dessert recipe.
Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is the main ingredient and it’s actually used in both layers. For best texture, I suggest a processed creamy peanut butter such as Skippy. (I do not recommend oily or natural style peanut butter for this recipe, though I do make homemade peanut butter all the time! If you are looking for a recipe to use natural style peanut butter, these peanut butter cookies are for you.)
Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar keeps everything together and adds sweetness.
Chocolate Chips: Because we can’t have chocolate peanut butter bars without chocolate!

2 images of chocolate chips and peanut butter in a glass bowl and pouring melted chocolate peanut butter mixture into pan

How to Make No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

The first step is to melt the butter. Mix the butter with the graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and peanut butter. Press into a 9-inch square pan, the same size pan we use for these homemade brownies. Melt remaining peanut butter with chocolate chips. Pour on top of the peanut butter layer. Chill in the refrigerator until set, then cut into squares.

That’s it. You’re done. This is probably the easiest dessert you’ll ever make. Even easier than peanut butter balls and peanut butter eggs!

These 5 ingredient no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars are so easy. They’re fudgy, creamy, absolutely irresistible, and taste like peanut butter cups! Step away from the computer and run (don’t walk) to the kitchen to get started. Like, right now.

No bake peanut butter bar with bite out of it

More Peanut Butter + Chocolate Recipes

More 5 Ingredient or Less Recipes

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 213 reviews

Author: Sally McKenney
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Yield: 20-24 squares
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Bake
Cuisine: American

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Description

These no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars are incredibly decadent and made from only 5 ingredients.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) salted butter, melted*
1 cup (120g) graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full sheet graham crackers)*
2 cups (240g) confectioners’ sugar
1 cup + 2 Tablespoons (280g) creamy peanut butter, divided
1 cup (180g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

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Instructions

Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Set aside.
Mix the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and confectioners’ sugar together in a medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup (250g) of peanut butter, then press evenly into prepared baking pan.
Melt remaining 2 Tablespoons of peanut butter with the chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stove. Stir until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer.
Chill in the refrigerator until completely firm, at least 2 hours. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve chilled. Setting them out for a few hours at room temperature for serving is OK.
Cover leftover bars tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Notes

Freezing Instructions: Cover bars tightly, as a whole or cut into individual squares, and freeze for up to 3 months. I simply line the squares in a freezer-friendly container between sheets of parchment paper. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Special Tools (affiliate links): 8-inch Square Baking Pan or 9-inch Square Baking Pan | Glass Mixing Bowls | Rubber Spatula
Butter: Unsalted butter can be used instead. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt with the peanut butter in step 2.
Peanut Butter: For best texture, I strongly suggest a processed creamy peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy. I do not recommend oily or natural style peanut butter for this recipe. You can use chunky-style peanut butter, though the bars can get a little crumbly.
Graham Crackers: Don’t have graham crackers where you live? Use 120g ground digestive biscuits instead (about 8 biscuits).
This recipe was updated in 2019 with more confectioners’ sugar and peanut butter to produce thicker bars.

Sally McKenney

Sally McKenney is a baker, food photographer, and New York Times best-selling author. Her kitchen-tested recipes and step-by-step tutorials have given millions of readers the knowledge and confidence to bake from scratch. Sally’s work has been featured on TODAY, Good Morning America, Taste of Home, People, and more.