Chocolate peanut butter bars are my absolute dream dessert.
Seriously — is there any better combination? I don’t think so.
Sure, there are other delicious pairings — brown butter and sage, tomato and basil, salt and vinegar — but for me, peanut butter tops them all. A spoonful of peanut butter dipped in chocolate chips fixes everything.
It really does. I swear.
These bars are the perfect indulgent treat to make this weekend. They’re nostalgic, crowd-pleasing and impossibly satisfying.
Believe it or not, Eddie doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter — which still baffles me. How can anyone not love this combo?
These bars taste like a giant homemade peanut butter cup. They bring back childhood memories — we made them all the time when I was a kid. They remind me of my grandma’s two-toned fudge at Christmas, only better because, well, chocolate and peanut butter. When peanut butter showed up at family gatherings, it was always a treat the kids went wild for.
My favorite detail in these bars is the graham cracker crumbs in the crust. They add a subtle crunch and a graham-like flavor that balances the richness of the peanut butter and chocolate. If you love graham cracker crusts, you’ll adore how they play into this base.
These are no-bake bars, though they do need some time in the fridge to set. You can make them in a 9×13-inch pan for thinner bars, or a 9×9-inch pan for thicker, more decadent squares. I recommend cutting them into small pieces — they’re rich, and a little goes a long way.
Whether you’re planning Halloween treats or just something cozy for the weekend, these bars are a great choice. They taste like your favorite candy, only better — think of them as homemade peanut butter cups in bar form.
Pretty sure we’re all set!
Salted Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Salted Peanut Butter Cup Bars
12
people+
20 mins
1 hr
1 hr 20 mins
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Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use natural peanut butter)
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups milk or dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon flaked salt
Instructions
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Line a 9×13-inch pan (for thin bars) or a 9×9-inch pan (for thick bars) with parchment paper.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and vanilla until combined. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
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Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together until smooth. Coconut oil helps the chocolate set more firmly but is optional. Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and spread it evenly. Sprinkle with flaked salt.
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Refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving. Cut into small squares — these bars are rich, so smaller pieces are best.
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This bite is everything.