No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

This no bake peanut butter bars recipe has creamy peanut butter with crushed pretzels for added crunch and a smooth chocolate top.

It’s so simple to make and the fact that you don’t have to cook it makes it perfect for a busy mom.

Creamy peanut butter with smooth chocolate on top, cut into small squares make it a temptation you just can’t resist!

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Oh my gosh. These no bake peanut butter bars are so good. The peanut butter combined with chocolate tastes like a decadent dessert. The fact that it’s such an easy no bake recipe is what makes them a winner, too!

Good and easy.

This batch of no bake peanut butter bars makes a lot of little squares so I planned on bringing them over to a friend’s house for an after dinner treat, but after I tasted one I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let them leave my kitchen. These things are — wait for it — better than a Reese’s peanut butter cups. There I said it. #truth

My family LOVES these no bake peanut butter bars.

Peanut Butter Bars with Pretzels

It’s the secret ingredient that makes them special: pretzels. The pretzels give a tiny crunch and a slightly salty flavor to the peanut butter bars. The inside tastes just like a peanut butter cup!

And, don’t forget the chocolate on top. The single layer of chocolate pairs perfectly with the creamy peanut butter mixture on the bottom.

This is a Trisha Yearwood no bake peanut butter bars recipe from her cookbook: Trisha’s Table. The recipe for her no bake peanut butter bars is on page 211. Skip everything else and go straight to the no bake peanut butter bars – they’re covered in chocolate!

Peanut Butter Bar Ingredients

You’ll need just a few ingredients for this easy recipe:

• pretzel sticks
• chocolate chips
• peanut butter
• powdered sugar
• butter

You probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry right now. I try to keep them on hand so I can make this peanut butter recipe any day of the week!

Just a few ingredients are needed for this sweet recipe.

How to Make No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Start by putting the pretzels in a food processor. If you don’t have one, you can put them in a zip top bag and use a rolling pin to hammer them into small pieces. 

Melt the butter and mix with the crushed pretzels, powdered sugar, and peanut butter.

Just use one bowl and stir to combine. This recipe is so easy you can’t mix by hand. 

Once the mixture is combined, it will look like this. Should be a consistent color. 

Spray a square baking pan and put the dough mixture into the pan. Use your hands or the back of a large spoon to spread it and pat it down so it’s even across the bottom of the pan. 

And, here’s another little surprise for these no bake CHOCOLATE peanut butter bars … the chocolate has peanut butter in it! Put the rest of the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl along with the chocolate chips. 

Melt in the microwave in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring after each 30 seconds. 

Put chocolate mixture onto the peanut butter dough and spread out evenly. Put into the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set. 

When you remove the pan from the refrigerator, you can cut the peanut butter bars into squares. You can make these as large or as small as you want.

The temptation might be to make them large, but these things pack a punch of rich peanut butter and chocolate flavor so a small piece goes a long way!

Don’t they look delightful?

You may just need a glass of fresh, cold milk to go along with these.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made these since the first time. They are a huge family favorite in our house!

And are always gone in minutes.

I like to pack them as a special treat in school lunches since they’re so small. The kids love the sweet treat!