These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars taste like Reece’s peanut butter cups! A soft peanut butter biscuit base topped with a peanut butter flavoured chocolate, all you need are 5 ingredients: biscuits, butter, chocolate, peanut butter and sugar.
This is the ultimate emergency sweet-treat!
NO BAKE Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
When it comes to sweet treats, these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are probably what I make the most often because it’s so quick to pull together, no bake, and WHO DOESN’T LOVE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS???
Plus, I almost always have everything I need to make these. Even though biscuits aren’t part of my weekly shop, usually if I dig deep into the giant baskets into which I toss everything that doesn’t have an obvious dedicated position in the pantry, then usually I’ll find some sort of biscuit suitable to use.
A month past the due by date, perhaps. Pffff! That’s fine. Everyone knows that the used by date for things like dried goods are conservative. Right? 😜
And actually, here’s proof of how frequently I make these: I just realised as I was pulling together the photos for this post how they don’t fit together like a set, and it’s because I shot them all on different days.
The photos you see in this post are from 3 different batches where I snapped a quick photo thinking hmm, I really should re-publish these Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars recipe with a video soon, and finally I got my butt into gear and actually did it.
Albeit I’ve ended up with a weird set of photos from three different days. Four actually – because the step photos were taken while making the recipe video! 🙈
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars recipe truly is pure gold. It was given to me by a reader, the lovely Dorothy from Tennessee, way back when I started this blog. It’s only 5 ingredients – crackers, peanut butter, chocolate, icing sugar (confectionary sugar) and butter. That’s it.
And it’s NO BAKE. Waiting for it to set is the hardest part of this recipe.
I usually approach “5 ingredient” recipes with caution. I find that many “5 Ingredient” recipes I see usually include a store bought sauce or similar. Like 5 ingredient BBQ chicken which includes a “bottle of your favourite barbecue sauce”.
When I see recipes like that, I instantly think that’s cheating!! 😂
Please don’t ask me why in my twisted mind, this counts as a 5 ingredient recipe “made from scratch” even though it is made using crackers. It just is.
#FemaleLogic
– Nagi x
For the Peanut Butter Obsessed
Peanut Butter Caramel Pie – dangerously easy, outrageously decadent
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies – just 3 ingredients!
More irresistible bars and slices
Brownies!! AND Salted Caramel Stuffed Brownies – ooh la la!
Caramel Slice (aka Millionaire’s Bar!) – the great Aussie favourite!
Strawberry Bars – made with tons of fresh strawberries!
Easiest Ever Raspberries Jam Bars and Lemon Bars
And more emergency sweet treats – 3 Ingredient Desserts!!
1 ingredient Dulce de Leche – Slow Cooker Caramel
Classic Scones – and faster Lemonade Scones – both 3 ingredients!
Watch how to make it
Sometimes it helps to have a visual so watch me make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars!
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5 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (NO BAKE!)
Ingredients
Base
- 115g / 1/2 cup / 1 US stick melted salted butter (or unsalted butter + 1/4 tsp salt)
- 1 cup crushed Arnott’s Marie crackers (11 crackers) or graham cracker crumbs (8 crackers) (Note 1)
- 1 cup icing sugar / powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup peanut butter (smooth)
Topping
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips – the melting kind (US: semi sweet) (Note 2)
- 2 tbsp peanut butter (smooth)
Instructions
- Butter and line a 8″ / 20cm square dish or pan with baking paper.
- Place the Base ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. Press into the prepared pan.
- Melt the Topping ingredients (I do it in the microwave in 2 x 30 second bursts). Pour and spread over the Base – smooth the top or do swirls (see photos for examples of each).
- Refrigerate until set – about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from fridge, allow to come to room temp slightly (so top cuts neatly). Cut into 16 squares (or whatever shape you want!). Best served at room temperature.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars recipe was originally published January 2018. Updated for some housekeeping matters in October 2018, no change to recipe!
LIFE OF DOZER
That time he snuck on mum’s couch and we wondered how many cushions we could pile on him. We ran out of cushions.
My wife and I loved these, used Nilla wafers for the biscuits. Thank you Nagi!
That’s so great to hear John C! Thanks for sharing your feedback – N x
i have been making these for years. i have also created a recipe that is similar that i call Ferrero Roche Bars. I have been told to patent the recipe lol. Everyone says it is bang on to the chocolates..my one friend said she was hiding in the bathroom with them so she didn’t have to share with her family hahaha.
If you would like to try my recipe let me know
Thanks for the recipe offer!
I’d love to make the recipe- my mum’s favorite chocolate is ferrero roche so I’d love to make the bars for her!
Happy New Year!
Beth
Ferrero Roche Bars
Base
1 package of voortmans vanilla wafer cookies
1/2 package voortmans peanutbutter wafer cookies
1/2 c melted butter or margarine
1 cup of Nutella
1/4 cup sifted cocoa powder
Top
2 cups milk chocolate melted
4 tbsps Nutella
1/2 c coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts
Instructions
In a food processor, finely grind the cookies. Add the cocoa, melted butter and Nutella.
Spread in a 9X13 pan that has been lined with parchment paper, leaching some over hanging the sides for easy lifting from the pan.
After some trial and error I added the cocoa as the wafer cookies were too sweet with the Nutella. You May find it too sweet still, so before adding to the pan, taste it, and if it is too sweet for your liking add a little cocoa at a time till you get the desired sweetness.
Put in fridge to set while making the topping.
Toast the 1/2 cup of Hazelnuts and carefully grind in food processor.
Melt chocolate and nutella. Add half of the chopped hazelnuts.
Spread on top of base, then sprinkle the rest of the chopped Hazelnuts on top.
Chill for 1 hour then cut into bars and enjoy!
Teresa…… don’t be shocked if you happen to see this on my blog one of these days!!😂
I would be honored!! <3 You are one of my favorite cooks!
Would these work if I used Scotch Finger biscuits instead? How many would I need?
Hi Nagi, Love your recipes & Dozer!!!! Would this work with nut-free butters (for nut allergy folk). I’ll make them for myself with peanut paste (sorry – Queenslander). Love your work. 🙂
sorry, forgot to mention that I found them a little too sweet, so next time I’ll only be using 1/2 cup icing sugar.
Yummi! and soooo easy to make
I used crunchy pb, which I prefer, turned out fine
thanks Nagi
They look amazing! My 3-year-old loves peanut butter. I need to make these for him!
Don’t deprive him! 🙂 N x
Made this the first time around and it was a hit!
🙌🏻 N xx
Gotta try these, as I love peanut butter; and quick easy recipes. 🙂
Hope you do!! N xx
this looks like a great TV snack & i love peanut butter.
I’m literally watching TV now nibbling on one. I KID YOU NOT!
YUM. These look incredible- a great quick fix for my own cravings or for a last minute potluck dish!
YES!!! Exactly!!
Five ingredient recipes are some of the best! These look to-die-for! Simplicity for the win. 🙂 Can’t wait to make these.
YES!!!! 🙌🏻
Hi, Nagi,
Just a heads-up about people who might have peanut or tree nut allergies and don’t eat tasty treats like this one. A great alternative to peanut butter or tree nut butter (such as almond, cashew, etc) is SunButter, made with sunflower seeds. You can Google SunButter and read about it on their website. We use SunButter in our house, and it’s delicious. It tastes so close to peanut butter, no one would probably notice that it was something else entirely. Amazon sells it, and so does iHerb, but some health food stores carry it, too.
I also have a question. I got a big tin of Walker’s shortbread cookies (biscuits where you are) and wonder if they can be used for the base crust. I just have so many of them, I’d just as soon use some in a recipe, but they aren’t thin and crisp.
Dozer is so sweet to put up with you (and your mother!). LOL
Small price to pay for all the goodies and love showered on him every day. 🙂
Thank you SO MUCH for that tip!!!! N xx
PS For the shortbread, I would probably reduce the butter by about 1/3. Because Walker’s is so buttery! The peanut butter should keep the base together enough 🙂 N xx
Hi Nagi,
There is not one recipe that I don’t like…and I love,love, love Dozier..I have 2 dogs and 2 cats.😊
Thank you so much, you are awesome.
Ohhhh MONICA! Best message ever to read on a Monday night! N xx PS Slobbery kisses from Dozer
Thank you so much for all of these wonderful recipes!!! I’m so happy to have found your blog!!
You’re so welcome Karalyn! And I’m so glad you found me too! N x
Peanut butter and chocolate! You can’t go wrong with that combo! I think I have everything to make these, and I love quick, easy recipes. Thanks, Nagi!
Poor Dozer must have been really out of it to not feel those cushions being placed on him. LOL!
I KNOW!!! It was so funny, he just happily snoozed away!!
Hi, Nagi,
Do you think it’s possible to make a sugarless version by using sugarless crackers/peanut butter/chocolate, and then using a sugar substitute such as splenda? Thinking of making for a diabetic person’s birthday.
Hi Judith! You know, I think that will work great! This is such a great recipe for subbing the sugar because it’s no bake – no cook! N xx
These look scrumptious and now I am DEFINITELY needing some peanut butter for lunch! As a suggestion if anyone ever wanted to try something new, I have made them using crushed pretzels in the base instead of cookies…..it gives it that salty/sweet quality! I love all your recipes, Nagi and look forward to reading your blog every week!!!
That is SUCH AN AWESOME IDEA!!!! Do you mix pretzels with sweet crackers or just use pretzels??
I have one question. I crush my peanuts in the blender to mix the peanut butter base. May I do that?
Do you mean adding crushed peanuts as well as peanut butter?? Or instead of?? 🙂 N x
This is my go-to slice to make when we’re having a morning tea at work and it always gets a huge response – my colleagues LOVE it!!
I’m so happy to hear you love this Corrin!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. N x ❤️