Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake!)

An easy no-bake recipe for peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting.

Source:  Bakerlady

Some days were made for baking.  When it’s cool outside, and you have lots of un-interrupted time and lots of fresh produce in your fridge, there is nothing better than spending a few hours creating marvelous meals and desserts.  The kitchen gets all warm from the oven, and the house smells like brownies, or apple pie, or pot roast.

I believe in days like that.  I can’t remember the last time I experienced one, but I believe they exist.

More frequently, I find myself with a great desire to bake, but with an empty pantry and a full calendar.  Some day, my life will be calm.  Today, I struggle to put dinner on the table in the twenty minutes we are all together between karate classes and piano lessons and homework.  So today, I am making a treat that requires NO baking, only a FEW ingredients, and can be done QUICKLY.  It’s the perfect weekday treat for a busy family.

I’m going to warn you now, though… DON’T lick the bowl.  Just don’t.

PB Bars 2013 tall1a

Did you know you can purchase graham cracker crumbs in a box?  Gone are the days of putting crackers in a ziploc bag and smashing them with a rolling pin.  Gone are the days of using the bulky food processor to turn crackers into crumbs.  Welcome the days of buying them already crushed!  It’s a major time saver.  Take your already crushed graham cracker crumbs and mix them with powdered sugar, butter, and peanut butter.  The spread the mixture into a 9×13 pan.

Here’s the thing… if you lick the bowl, I guarantee you will take a spoon to the 9×13, before you even get it frosted.  You’ll be tempted to eat the entire thing yourself, and hide the pan from your kids.

That’s not what happened to me, I’m just saying it could happen. *ahem*

You’ll frost these lovely bars with a combination of chocolate and peanut butter, which is a very lovely frosting indeed.  These will need some time to cool and set up, but 30-60 minutes in the fridge ought to be enough.  And that’s it.  Voila!  You’ll have a fabulous, no-bake, keep-them-coming-back, weekday dessert with only a few minutes of work.

I’ll guarantee you they won’t last into the weekend.

 

Want more?  Try these fun no-bake treats!

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4.5 from 11 reviews
Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake!)
 
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Easy no-bake peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting.
Author:
Recipe type: Bars
Serves: 12 large
Ingredients
BARS:
  • 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup peanut butter
FROSTING:
  • 1½ cups chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup peanut butter
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, melt butter and peanut butter together. Add cracker crumbs and sugar. Stir to combine.
  2. Spread mixture evenly into a 9x13 pan.
  3. Melt chocolate chips with peanut butter in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth.
  4. Pour chocolate mixture over bars, and frost evenly.
  5. Chill for 40-50 minutes, until chocolate is set.

If you enjoy this recipe, you might also enjoy:

Nutella No-Bake Cookies from Jen’s Favorite Cookies

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake from Sprinkle Bakes

Golden Grahams S’mores Bars from Pinch of Yum

52 thoughts on “Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake!)”

  1. Pingback: Friday Favorites | Jen's Favorite Cookies

  3. Michelle Murdock

    Kyle came home the other day and told me I had to make these. He said they are amazing! I am going to try them for Father’s Day. Our family loves peanut butter. Thanks for your website Jen. I think I want to try every recipe!1

    Reply ↓
  5. Kristie (Lund) LeBaron

    Jen, these look delicious! I didn’t know you were doing a website, just stumbled across it. I love the pictures, comments and the recipes- I will definitely be back! Kristie

    Reply ↓

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  18. Morgan

    Oh boy. I didn’t need to know about these! 🙂 Guess what we’re having in our lunch bags this week?! You got it! Yum!

    Enjoy your SITS day! 🙂

    Reply ↓
  23. Beth(OMG! Yummy)

    Very clever! That chocolate topping must make it taste like you are eating a giant peanut butter cup. What could be better?

    Hope you are having a great SITS day. And when you get the kind of day that’s meant for baking with long un-interrupted time will you tell us about it so we can live vicariously? 🙂

    Reply ↓
  28. Charlotte

    Oh, YUMS! These look absolutely delish! Found you via SITS and can’t wait to try out this recipe. Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my favorite combos ever 🙂

    Reply ↓

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  39. Nana

    These ar enearly rich enough to call a candy. I have made these for years and we have always called them Buckeye Bars as they are a simple version of the Buckeye candies.

    Reply ↓
  40. michele

    Out of all the Peanut Butter Bars that I’ve made, this is the easiest-and my favorite! I will always try the recipe “first” before I comment on it…Thank you, Jen! This is a keeper! Loved these quick and easy, delicious bars!

    Reply ↓
  41. Marcina`

    I’ve been making these for years, but in “ball” form. Found the recipe in a magazine when I was a young teenager…they were called Goobers. Every Christmas I have to make at least one batch…they go fast!

    Reply ↓
    1. Jen Post author

      Rebekah, powdered sugar is also known as icing sugar or confectioner’s sugar. It certainly will not turn out well if you use white or brown sugar. Good luck!

      Reply ↓
    1. Jen Post author

      I can’t say for sure, since I don’t think they’ve ever lasted more than a day at my house! I would guess they would be fine on the counter for 2-3 days, or maybe a week in the fridge.

      Reply ↓
    1. Jen Post author

      I’m not familiar with marguerite… is it like margerine? Most baking recipes are okay using margerine instead of butter, but I don’t recommend it for no-bake recipes. They often get their flavor and texture from the butter. If you do give it a try, please let us know how it turns out!

      Reply ↓

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