4-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars
This is one of those back-pocket recipes every home cook should know—a modern, streamlined cousin of the classic Midwestern church-basement bars we grew up with at potlucks, bake sales, and community suppers. At its heart, it’s a simple peanut butter–graham cracker crust topped with a glossy chocolate layer. No oven, no candy thermometer, no fuss. The result tastes like a peanut butter cup in bar form: salty-sweet, fudgy, and wonderfully satisfying.
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Perfect for warm days when you don’t want to turn on the oven, quick weeknight treats, or those moments when dessert needs to happen in under 20 minutes of hands-on time.
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No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (4 Ingredients)
Ingredients (Makes 16 squares)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Graham cracker crumbs (or digestive biscuits) | 1 ½ cups (180 g) |
| Creamy peanut butter, divided | 1 cup (240 g) — ¾ cup for base, ¼ cup for topping |
| Unsalted butter, melted | ½ cup (115 g) |
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 1 ½ cups (260 g) |
Directions
- Prepare the pan: Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) pan with parchment, leaving overhang for easy lifting.
- Make the base: Mix crumbs with melted butter until sandy. Stir in ¾ cup peanut butter until cohesive.
- Press crust: Firmly press mixture into the pan bottom.
- Melt topping: Microwave chocolate chips with remaining ¼ cup peanut butter in short bursts, stirring until smooth. (Or melt gently over simmering water.)
- Top the bars: Spread chocolate mixture evenly over crust.
- Chill to set: Refrigerate 1–2 hours until firm.
- Slice & serve: Lift slab out, rest 5–10 minutes at room temp, then cut into squares. Store covered in fridge up to 5 days or freeze for longer.
