No-Bake Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

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!

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No-Bake Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

4.5 from 2 votes

by Kristin Porter

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12 bars

GFGluten FreeDFDairy FreeVMeatlessEFEgg Free

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No-Bake Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are a gluten-free dessert recipe that tastes like a crispy chocolate peanut butter cup!

Equipment

• 8x8 baking dish

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

Calories: 372kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 193mg, Potassium: 169mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 485IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.

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