No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Name: No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup natural peanut butter; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1 cup fine almond flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips; 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter; 1 tablespoon coconut oil

There’s no better dessert combination than chocolate and peanut butter. Truly the most elite.

My favorite dessert of all time are Reese’s peanut butter cups and chocolate chip cookies.

This is specific too - I like warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies. And the holiday Reese’s - the ones that have a much higher ratio of peanut butter to chocolate (iykyk).

It’s always bummed me out that the holiday Reese’s essentially go on hiatus between Easter in April and Halloween in October. Surely we could find another holiday during those 6 months to create a Reese’s shape for, no?!

Yes, I’ve thought about this a lot. Lol.

So anyway, what I love about these No Bake Peanut Butter Bars is that they taste almost exactly like those holiday Reese’s.

Are they the exact same? No, of course not. And I’m definitely not suggesting that these are a replacement for real Reese’s.

But, they taste just as good. And are such a delicious option when you want a make at home, peanut butter and chocolate-y treat.

The base is so thick and luscious. It’s sweet but not too sweet and has the most perfect peanut butter texture.

On top, go as heavy on the chocolate as you like! I prefer a layer that’s not too thin.

There are so many ways you can customize these bars too. Use semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate. Add sea salt or peanuts on top.

The peanut butter and chocolate world is your oyster :) I hope you love them!

Mix the peanut butter layer

Line a 6 x 7.5 (or square) baking dish with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, add the peanut butter and maple syrup. Mix well until combined.

Add flour & salt

Add the almond flour and salt. Mix well until smooth.

Layer into baking dish

Pour the mixture into the lined baking dish. Using your hands or a spatula, spread the peanut butter mixture evenly, making sure it’s flat on top.

Melt the chocolate

Make the chocolate layer: in a bowl, add the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and coconut oil. Melt in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Stir until smooth.

Pour chocolate layer & spread

Pour the chocolate layer on top of the peanut butter layer and spread until even and smooth.

Chill for 1 hr

Place in the fridge to harden for at least 1 hour.

Cut & serve

Remove from the fridge and cut into 8 squares.

Everything else you should know:

Peanut butter: Use a natural peanut butter to make these. It’ll mix the best and result in the best texture and flavor. If you only have regular peanut butter on hand though, that’s fine! Just add less maple syrup (you can taste the peanut butter layer as you mix to check the sweetness).
Chocolate: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can also use dark or milk chocolate. I like adding a little peanut butter to the melted chocolate to give it more of a ganache-like texture. If you prefer the chocolate to be harder, don’t add the peanut butter when melting and only melt the chocolate with coconut oil.
Mix ins: You can add different mix ins to these bars. Try adding crushed peanuts or pretzels to the peanut butter to add crunch. Or you can add them on top of the chocolate. I love a little flaky salt on top!
Storage: Store these bars in an airtight container either in the fridge or freezer. They’ll last in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Do not store them at room temperature.

Did you try this recipe?

I hope you love these No Bake Peanut Butter Bars! If you make it be sure to leave a comment below, mention @Veggiesandchocolate or tag #Veggiesandchocolate so I know how you liked it. I can’t wait to see your creations!