No-Bake Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are a gluten-free dessert recipe that tastes like a crispy chocolate peanut butter cup!
When I was growing up, my Dad came home from work each Friday with a treat for my brother’s and me. “Friday treat” was something we looked forward to all week long.
Well, my Friday treat to you today is No-Bake Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars!
Chocolate Buckeyes meet Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, meet Rice Krispie Treats in this decadent, 5-ingredient dessert recipe that’s gooey yet crispy, perfectly peanut buttery, and has just the right amount of chocolate.
I don’t know about you, but I like the ratio of my chocolate peanut butter cups to be 2:1, peanut butter to chocolate, and these bars definitely reflect it!
The recipe couldn’t be simpler – whip together peanut butter and softened butter (or vegan butter) with powdered sugar and gluten-free crispy rice cereal, then press into bars and top with melted chocolate spiked with peanut butter. OH. YEAH.
I may have gotten my love of salads from my Mama, but Dad taught me that the best way to end the week is with a sweet and delicious treat!
How to Make this Recipe
Start by mixing smooth peanut butter and softened butter or vegan butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar then mix to combine.
Next add luten-free crispy rice cereal then mix until just combined.
Lightly spray an 8×8″ baking dish with nonstick spray then press the crispy peanut butter mixture into the bottom with a spatula.
In a microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips (I love Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels which are GF and DF) and peanut butter then microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until the mixture is smooth. Pour onto the peanut butter bars then smooth with a spatula.
Refrigerate the bars until the chocolate has set, 20-25 minutes, then score the chocolate with a sharp knife. If you wait to slice the bars until they’re completely set, the chocolate could crack when sliced. No biggie in the taste-department, the slices just won’t look quite as sharp!
Place the bars back into the refrigerator until totally set, preferably overnight. Again, you can make these bars several days ahead of time.
Once the chocolate has completely set — slice, and devour!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 1-1/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons peanut butter, divided
- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 cups gluten free crispy rice cereal, Erewhon recommended
- 1 cup gluten free dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, Enjoy Life recommended
Directions
- Add butter or vegan butter and 1-1/4 cups peanut butter to the bowl of an electric mixer or large mixing bowl. Mix with the stand mixer or hand mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar then mix until combined. Add crispy rice cereal then mix until just combined. Spray an 8x8 baking dish (can be slightly larger too - whatever you've got on hand) with nonstick spray then scoop crispy peanut butter mixture into the dish and spread into an even layer with a spatula.
- Combine chocolate chips and remaining 2 Tablespoons peanut butter in a microwave safe dish then microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until smooth (should take about 1-1/2 minutes total.) Pour on top of peanut butter bars then smooth with a spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate has barely set, 25 minutes or so, then score chocolate with a sharp knife. Refrigerate until bars are set, preferably overnight, then slice and serve.
Notes
- These bars will soften if left sitting out so they are best kept in the fridge until serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
These are delicious and easy! However, I cut the powdered sugar down to 1/2 cup.
My brother has a newly diagnosed milk allergy that I totally forgot about when planning our 4th of July menu. Ice cream cake is about the worst thing I could serve him. Eek!
IGE to the rescue! I appreciate that I can use the recipe index to find recipes to serve my family members with food allergies. I was able to quickly whip up these bars for my brother in just 15 minutes and they are super yummy!
Can you leave out the rice cereal?
Hi there! How would these be without the powdered sugar?
I love peanut butter, but mixed with chocolate is just the amazing mix. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe.
I used regualr rice crispy cereal and the consistancy seemed a bit off. I’m definitely going to try to make again (possibly user error), but do you know if since I used different cereal that would change the amount of peanut butter I use? I know you may not know the answer, but if anyone else has made these and used non GF cereal, did you use the same ingredients as above? TIA!
Hi Amanda! Using regular Rice Krispies wouldn’t make a difference – they’d be gluten-free if Kellogg’s didn’t add malt flavoring to the ingredients. That said, these treats ARE softer than regular rice krispie treats. Try popping them in the freezer for a bit to see if you like that texture better!
pretty exciting contest!
My favorite toppings are olives, onions, and mushrooms
Thanks for that tip, Sandy
Lately, it’s BBQ chicken!! I’ve been obsessed.
It would be nice to have a few of these pizzas in my freezer for when my friend Melanie comes over!
Sausage and onions