Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars (Printable Version)

Rich no-bake bars featuring creamy peanut butter and chocolate topping

# What You Need:

→ Base Layer

01 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
04 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

→ Chocolate Topping

05 - 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
06 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

# Directions:

01 - Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter and 1 cup creamy peanut butter, stirring until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs, then mix until a thick, uniform dough forms.
03 - Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish. Press it firmly and evenly across the bottom, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
04 - Place the chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each burst, until fully melted and glossy.
05 - Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base, spreading it into an even layer with a spatula.
06 - Refrigerate the pan for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate topping is firm to the touch.
07 - Lift the slab out of the dish using the parchment overhang. Place on a cutting board and slice into 16 even squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No oven required, which means you can make these even on the hottest summer day without breaking a sweat.
  • The base comes together in one bowl with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry right now.
02 -
  • Do not skip the parchment paper overhang or you will be chiseling bars out of the dish with a butter knife at midnight.
  • Chilling for the full 2 hours matters because cutting too early gives you a gooey mess instead of neat squares.
03 -
  • Wet your fingers slightly before pressing the base into the pan to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
  • Let the chocolate cool for just a minute before spreading so it does not slide right off the edges of the base.

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