Home » Dessert Recipes » Grandma’s Peanut Butter Bars (No-Bake)
ByBrandie
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With only five ingredients, Grandma’s Peanut Butter Bars are a classic recipe that are nostalgic and delicious. They taste like the bars that were served in school cafeterias back in the day.
A NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER BAR
Grandma’s Peanut Butter Bars are such a simple and classic recipe that has been passed down over the years. Many of us may remember our school lunch ladies making them. This is one dessert recipe that is hard to resist and comes to us today thanks to Grammie Angel. Grammie shared her recipe on TikTok recently and I just had to make them after seeing her easily whip them up. She said these are her grandson’s favorite and I can see why! I do add some tips below that I think will be helpful when you are making this peanut butter bar recipe. Also, if you missed Grammie’s Swedish Apple Pie recipe, make sure you go take a look!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Do these peanut butter bars need to be kept refrigerated?
These bars need to be refrigerated at all times. If they come to room temperature, they don’t hold up together as well. I think they actually taste better when cold.
Can I use all-natural peanut butter?
I have not tried it so I really cannot say. However, if you want to substitute the creamy peanut butter with chunky, I think that would taste amazing.
What if I don’t like semi-sweet chocolate?
You could use milk chocolate or even dark chocolate. Whatever you prefer.
Can I use a sugar substitute?
I have not tried it with anything other than sugar so you would have to experiment and use your best judgement with that.
Do I need to microwave the chocolate?
If chocolate is overcooked in the microwave, the chocolate will seize. This means it will get clumps in it and won’t be spreadable.
If you are concerned about this, you can melt the chocolate in a double broiler. Stick a heat-safe bowl (preferably metal or a high temperature-safe glass bowl) over a pot of boiling water. Make sure the bowl fits comfortably on top of the pot without falling in.
Put the chocolate chips into that top bowl and whisk constantly until melted. Then continue with the rest of the recipe.
How do I store leftover peanut butter bars?
This recipe needs to be stored in the refrigerator either in the pan or an airtight container where it will keep for up to 1 week.
These can also be frozen. Place cut bars in pan wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil. Or wrap bars individually in plastic wrap and place in airtight container or zip top bag in freezer. They will last up to 3 months.
You can eat straight from frozen or remove to refrigerator to soften up a bit before serving.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- butter
- powdered sugar
- graham cracker crumbs
- peanut butter
- chocolate chips
HOW TO MAKE GRANDMA’S PEANUT BUTTER BARS:
Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter, set aside.
Place the rest of the butter that you used to grease the pan along with the other stick of butter and place them into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until melted.
Into the bowl with the melted butter add the powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter. Stir until combined well.
Stir until combined well.
Immediately pour into the greased baking dish and smooth it out. Place it in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
While the peanut butter layer sets in the freezer, place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted and smooth, do not overcook or the chocolate will seize.
Spread the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter mixture.
Place it back into the freezer until the chocolate is just set but not frozen, about 10-15 minutes.
Cut immediately into squares and serve.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Poke Cake
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
- Peanut Butter Pie Brownies
- Grandma’s Potato Candy
- Peanut Butter Bomb Cake
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes
- Grandma’s Texas Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cake
- Homemade Kit Kat Bars
Grandma’s Peanut Butter Bars (+Video)
With only five ingredients, Grandma's No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are a nostalgic recipe and taste like the bars served in school cafeterias.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Chill: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 20
Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 20 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter, set aside.
Place the rest of the butter (that you used to grease the pan with) along with the other stick of butter and place them into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until melted.
Into the bowl with the melted butter add the powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter.
Stir until combined well.
Immediately spread peanut butter mixture into the greased baking dish and smooth it out. Place it in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
While the peanut butter layer sets in the freezer, place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted and smooth, do not overcook.
Spread the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter mixture.
Place it back into the freezer until the chocolate is just set but not frozen, about 10-15 minutes. If they're totally frozen, it's too hard to cut into bars.
Cut immediately into squares and serve.
Video
Notes
- These bars need to be refrigerated at all times. If they come to room temperature, they don’t hold up together too well.
- Creamy peanut butter is used for these but you can use chunky if you like. I think it would be a great substitute.
- I used semi-sweet chocolate chips but you could also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips.
- If you can’t find pre-packaged graham cracker crumbs, just crush up some regular graham crackers in a baggie or food processor.
- You can absolutely double this recipe to make more for larger crowds because they do go fast!
- If chocolate is overcooked in the microwave, the chocolate will seize. This means it will get clumps in it and won’t be spreadable.
If you are concerned about this, you can melt the chocolate in a double broiler. Stick a heat-safe bowl (preferably metal or a high temperature-safe glass bowl) over a pot of boiling water. Make sure the bowl fits comfortably on top of the pot without falling in.
Put the chocolate chips into that top bowl and whisk constantly until melted. Then continue with the rest of the recipe.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Nutrition
Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 27g | Sodium: 185mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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A delicious treat!Reply
WE LOVED THEM, SO EASY TO MAKE & BETTER TO EAT…………….YUM, YUMReply
Thanks SO much!! So happy you enjoyed these!
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what would the cup amount be for the 20oz of chocolate chips
Reply
According to Google its about 3 1/2 cups
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Making these for my Reese’s loving husband and kiddos on a cold rainy night in Texas!
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Hope the family loved it!
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My family has been making these for years! They are what I take to potlucks and when I get together with college friends!Reply
would love this as a keto recipe.
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I’m so sorry, I don’t do keto. Perhaps someone might comment on here on how to do it.
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