These fabulous Small-batch Peanut Butter bars are so easy to make–maybe too easy…
I’m not usually big on no-bake desserts. I love baking (I may have even written a whole book on the subject), so aside from some frozen desserts (remember last summer’s red wine popsicles?), there actually aren’t any no-bake desserts on the entire blog–until today.
Guys, have you ever had a Peanut Butter Bar?
Oh, these beautiful, terrible things. If you’ve never had one, that should change today. They are SO good, like giant, more substantial Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They have a base layer of sweet and salty peanut butter and graham cracker and then they are covered in peanut butter chocolate. It’s preeeety spectacular.
And the terrible thing about these bars is that they are so easy to make. Like take you five minutes and 2% effort to make. There’s not a whole lot to stop you from making these all the time if you wanted to (and you will want to).
How to Make Peanut Butter Bars
The process for making these Small-batch Peanut Butter Bars is just mix all of your peanut butter base ingredients together–you don’t even need a mixer, spread that out in a 7×5-inch baking dish (I used a Pyrex container), and then melt together some more peanut butter and chocolate and pour it over the top. Refrigerate and eat.
The most labor intensive part of making these bars is crushing some graham crackers for the base, and since this is a small-batch recipe, that’s like four crackers, so it’s more entertaining than tedious.
Since this is a small-batch recipe, it will make about six really generous bars, or you can cut them into much smaller, bite-sized pieces to spread the goodness around a little more. As with most things peanut butter, there’s really no wrong way to enjoy these.
Looking for more Peanut Butter Desserts? Try Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Sauce.
Small-batch Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
Special Equipment
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1/3 cup salted butter melted
- 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs (4 full sheets)
- 2/3 cup (80g) powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup (85g) creamy peanut butter (not natural peanut butter)
Chocolate Layer
- 1/2 cup (3oz) good-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 (20g) heaping tablespoon peanut butter
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and peanut butter. Stir with a spoon until well mixed. Turn out into an ungreased 7x5-inch dish and smooth out. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate and peanut butter. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. If necessary, microwave for an additional 15 seconds and stir, repeating until chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Pour mixture over the cooled peanut butter and spread. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting. Enjoy!
Adapted From The Girl Who Ate Everything
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Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Boy oh boy do these look good! Like a giant, more substantial Reese Peanut Butter Cup? What?! OMG! I’d say they are even better! These look so good and I’m loving that they are so easy to make. Maybe that’s not a good thing ’cause I’ll be wanting to make these every day, lol 😀 Pinning! Happy Monday, Tracy!
Tracy says
Hehe, that was my problem too! Now I look at the graham crackers and peanut butter in my cupboard like, you could be peanut butter bars right now. 😉 Happy Monday back, and thanks for pinning!
Shashi at Savory Spin says
I adore peanut butter and chocolate bars – so addicting – which makes this small batch recipe all the more enticing – even though, like you, I too enjoy baking. But with warmer temps and not wanting to turn my oven on, this recipe would come in handy!
Tracy says
Thanks, Shashi! And yeah, I think I’ll probably be turning to this recipe quite often when the temperatures start to clime again!
Sarah says
Small batch = fun spur of the moment baking night in my eyes! It also means not feeling as guilty if you and your friends polish off the batch in one sitting 😉 These look so great!
Tracy says
Yeeeess! Exactly. 😉 Thanks, Sarah!
Glamorous Glutton says
These look so good, I’m not a massive fan of no bake desserts usually but this is irresistible. GG
Tracy says
Thanks, GG. My thoughts exactly! 😉
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
What is it about small-batch treats that make them even more appealing than their large-yield cousins!? And the peanut butter, oh my! These look so delicious, can’t wait to try them next time I want just a little something.
Tracy says
Right!? I think it’s because they are just a little bit cuter. 😉 Thanks, Monica!!
GiGi says
I am just. UGHHH SO SO SO drooooollllinnnggggg over these!
Tracy says
Hehe, thanks, Gigi!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Yup…these look awesome. I make peanut butter bars every Christmas. I usually have to hide them so that I have enough to last the holidays. If you love peanut butter cups….this is right up your alley for sure.
Tracy says
Thanks, Gloria!! And LOL to you hiding peanut butter bars, but I totally get it. I’ve definitely been there! 😉
cakespy says
One of my favorite types of treats. They look so easy but so freaking gooooooooood!
Tracy says
Right!? 😉 Thanks!
Karly says
Thank goodness these are small batch, because I have no doubt that I could easily take down about a million of these in one serving. These look AMAZING!
Tracy says
Hehe, thanks, Karly!!
Moxie Carroll says
I love your site because I want to make desserts for my family without having to eat it for days!!! I’m definitely making this later this week. We adore peanut butter here, but I’ve got an extra jar of spiced biscuit spread, so I think I’ll give it a try with that! Thanks!
Bethany says
Ooooh! These bars look amazing!
Tracy says
Thanks!!
Patti says
Can I use Cheerios instead of graham crackers? If so do I need more seasoning or spices to it? I have a lot of them and no graham crackers. Love that you have recipes for two. There are 3 of us in my house, one is my 2 year old Grandbabybaby & her Mommy, my daughter.
Tracy says
Hi Patti, thanks! Regarding swapping, I’m not sure. I’ve never worked with crushed Cheerios, so I’m not sure what the texture is like. I worry that they might crush into too fine of a powder. But if you want to give it a try, they should be plenty sweet and flavorful just swapping out the graham cracker crumbs for cereal. And if you do try, please report back!
Ursula says
Just made these and they’re sooooo good! Thank you for this super easy recipe
Tracy says
Thanks, Ursula! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
Patricia Morris says
I made these today.They were very good. The problem I had was when I cut them and tried to get them out of the dish my chocolate separated from the peanut butter. What went wrong? Followed instructions. Would have gave them a 5 had I been able to get them out without falling apart.
Tracy says
Hi, Patricia, I haven’t seen that one before. What type of peanut butter/chocolate chips did you use? My only thought is that the fat/oil content might have been too much so the chocolate didn’t stick. Also were the bars frozen for more than 5 minutes? If they were frozen through, that could possibly affect the way the chocolate sticks. Sorry I can’t give more concrete answers, but I hope that helps a little!