Enjoy easy, no-bake Small Batch Peanut Butter Bars. Rich, creamy, and perfect for satisfying peanut butter cravings with simple ingredients. Just 10 minutes to prepare.
Line a 5x5-inch baking dish with parchment paper.Pro Tip: To measure out the correct amount of parchment paper you will need, cut a length of parchment paper long enough to line the bottom of the dish with extra hanging over the sides. Next, cut the corners so that the paper looks like a cross with the middle being the same size as the base of your dish. See the photo in Step 11. Finally, lightly butter the baking dish and press the parchment paper into the pan. Lining the baking dish helps to remove the bars from the pan easily.
Add the melted butter to a medium-sized bowl.
Add peanut butter to the bowl and mix on low speed with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
Sift the powdered sugar and add it to the bowl.Pro Tip: The best way to sift powdered sugar is with a sifter or a fine-mesh strainer. To use a mesh strainer, simply add the powdered sugar into the strainer, hold it with one hand and tap it against the other hand to move the powdered sugar through the holes. Sifting the powdered sugar helps to remove lumps which ensures that the peanut butter bars are smooth.
Mix on low speed until well blended. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl to incorporate all of the powdered sugar.
Fold in the graham cracker crumbs with a rubber spatula until fully combined.Pro Tip: You can make graham cracker crumbs by placing the cookies in the base of a food processor and pulse until the cookies turn to crumbs. Alternatively, place 3 sheets of graham crackers in a ziplock bag, seal, and roll with a rolling pin or heavy can to crush. If using a food processor, which tends to yield finer crumbs you will get a little less than ½ cup of cookie crumbs. When using a rolling pin, the amount of crumbs is closer to ½ cup, approximately 48 grams.
Pour into the lined baking dish and spread the batter evenly in the pan.
Prepare the topping. Place the chocolate chips and the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high in 20 to 25-second intervals, stirring between each interval until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
Pour the chocolate and peanut butter topping over the peanut butter base and spread evenly to the edges.
Chill in the refrigerator until firm, for at least 2 hours. Lift the parchment paper out of the dish.
Slice into squares and enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips
Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section of the post and gather your ingredients. These no-bake peanut butter bars come together quickly so it's a good idea to have everything ready before beginning.
Line your pan: This will make it easier to remove the bars. Just line the dish with parchment paper or foil.
Combine the ingredients well: Ensure your peanut butter mixture is well-combined and not too crumbly or dry, as this will affect the texture of the bars.
When melting the chocolate, be careful not to overheat it, as this can cause the chocolate to seize and become grainy.
Gluten-free peanut butter bars: Use crushed gluten-free cookies instead.
Use different cookies: Try using crushed Oreos, graham cereals, or vanilla wafers instead of graham crackers.
Add a topping: Add chopped nuts, crushed pretzels, or chopped candies to the top.