I blame the heat. Why else would I make a recipe like this – one that I KNOW TheBetterHalf and I will have absolutely no self control around?? This past week, we had a heatwave in NYC, and it made all of us a little crazy. Most Saturdays I will bake a loaf of bread or some muffins or a coffee cake, things that are delicious, but that I can usually stop eating after one or two pieces. Not this past Saturday…it was WAY too hot to turn on the oven. So I had the brilliant idea of making this no-bake recipe. This recipe is essentially a homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter cup, and it makes a whole tray of them! I’m not sure if you have noticed yet, but chocolate peanut butter is our absolute favorite dessert combination. And these bars are amazing!! I knew before I made them that I would not be able to stop eating them. But I decided to make them anyway. And I’m very glad that I did. A sweet and salty peanut butter bar topped with chocolate – what’s not to love?! They are so good, but so dangerous! That darn heat totally ruined any kind of healthy eating plan I had in mind for the weekend. Oh well, I guess that’s why they invented treadmills!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour
Ingredients
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 11 graham cracker sheets)
1 cup (8 ounces) butter
2 ½ cups (10 ounces) confectioners’ sugar
1 cup (9 ½ ounces) + 1 Tablespoon smooth peanut butter
pinch of salt
1 cup (6 ounces) chocolate chips
Directions
Line a 9×9 inch square pan with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a large, microwave safe bowl. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt, then stir in 1 cup peanut butter. Mix until well-combined. Spread the mixture in your prepared pan, and chill in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
Melt the chocolate chips with 1 Tbsp peanut butter. Spread the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter. Chill the bars for at least one hour. Cut into bars and enjoy! Note: These are best served chilled. They start to get a bit messy when they come to room temperature!
these are super addicting! i like them frozen. 🙂 sometimes i add a little cinnamon to the chocolate for something different. SO good 🙂
I was going to freeze them to prevent myself from eating them!! guess that won’t work….
The cinnamon trick sounds delicious! Thanks for the tip
Looks delicious!
Thank you!
These look great! Can’t wait to try them – terrific photos, too!
Thank you so much!! Hope you like them
I totally know about not wanting to turn the oven! 🙂 These look like a fab recipe!
Thank you!! It is just too hot for the oven sometimes!
They have my name written all over them!
I love your no bake bars! Chocolate and PB combo is all time favorite! xo
Thanks, Nami! It is really the best combo 🙂