Dense, chewy peanut buttery bars topped with a smooth chocolate peanut butter layer make these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars an easy and delicious holiday treat.

Three chocolate peanut butter bars stacked on a parchment-lined gold tone cooling rack with chocolate chips scattered around them.

A Holiday Favorite

Easy, delicious no-bake holiday treats they can’t wait to get their hands on? These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are just the ticket! Dense, chewy and slightly crunchy peanut butter bars with a smooth chocolate peanut butter layer on top — they’re simple to make, scrumptious to eat, and always a holiday crowd pleaser!

A no-bake chocolate peanut butter bar on a metal spatula with a wooden handle in front of a baking dish of chocolate peanut butter bars.

No-Bake Holiday Treats for the Win!

I love no-bake treats any time of year, but especially at the holidays where they’re a huge time saver. And sanity saver! Mixing store bought and homemade goodies (baked or not) makes putting on an impressive holiday spread all that much easier.

A few of my other favorites that don’t require an oven:

  • No-Bake Gingerbread Men Decorating Board: Let everyone decorate their own no-bake gingerbread men treats with this adorable decorating board. It makes for such a memorable and fun holiday tradition for all!
  • Muddy Buddy Bites: With the same great taste as the original, these Muddy Buddy Bites deliver all the crunchy, peanut-buttery goodness without all the mess. You’ll have a ball with these delicious treats!
  • No-Bake Monster Cookie Balls: No-Bake Monster Cookie Balls are a sweet bite-sized treat that’s easy to make and tastes just like everyone’s favorite monster cookie!
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls: Crunchy peanut butter and crispy cereal inside a chocolate shell make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls one scrumptious holiday favorite we crave year ’round!
Three chocolate peanut butter bars stacked on a parchment lined brass cooling rack with chocolate chips scattered around them. The top bar has a bite out of it.

Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter?

You can swap out the processed peanut butter for natural, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Texture. The texture of natural peanut butter is a bit on the runny side. Keep your natural peanut butter chilled as long as possible before adding it to your batter, and be sure to stir it really well before measuring. Or use a no-stir natural creamy peanut butter, like I do for most of my baking recipes!
  • Salt. Secondly, if your natural peanut butter is unsalted, you might need to adjust the amount of salt in your baking.
  • Sweetness. It’s certainly unsweetened, so the end product may not be as sweet as you expect, either. You may want to adjust the amount of sugar according to your tastes. 

Christmas Tree Cookie Board

Deck the halls with a festive variety of holiday cookie favorites arranged in a tree-shape for all to enjoy! A mix of store-bought and homemade treats make this Christmas Tree Cookie Board so easy and delicious.

A variety of holiday cookies laid out on a rectangular wood food board in the shape of a Christmas tree with a red star cookie on top.

What Do I Need to Make No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars?

  • Butter
  • Creamy peanut butter (no-stir)
  • Powdered sugar
  • Graham crackers
  • Semi‐sweet chocolate chips
  • 9×13-inch baking dish
  • Parchment paper or non-stick cooking spray
Five small white glass dishes containing graham cracker crumbs, creamy peanut butter, butter, chocolate chips, and confectioner's sugar.

How to Make No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

  • Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and 1 and 1/2 cups of the peanut butter until well combined.
  • Add the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs and mix until well incorporated.
Steps to make no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars.
  • Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  • Add the chocolate and the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth, about 90 seconds total.
  • Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture in the baking dish and spread evenly.
  • Cover and chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
Steps to make No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.
  • Let set at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife into bars. 
A glass baking dish with chocolate covered peanut butter bars cut into even squares.

How to Store No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Store bars in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before serving.

To freeze chocolate covered peanut butter bars, wrap bars tightly in freezer wrap. Then store individually wrapped bars in a freezer safe baggie for up to 3 months.

Chocolate covered peanut butter bars cut into squares  scattered on a parchment lined cooling rack. One square is turned on its side revealing the two layers.

If you make these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes and ideas I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,

Maegan's Signature
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Three chocolate peanut butter bars stacked on a parchment lined brass cooling rack with chocolate chips scattered around them.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: The BakerMama
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Chill Time: 3 hours
  • Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 30 bars

Description

Dense, chewy peanut buttery bars topped with a smooth chocolate peanut butter layer make these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars an easy and delicious holiday treat.


Ingredients

Base:

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 1 and 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs

Topping:

  • 2 cups semi‐sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and 1 and 1/2 cups of the peanut butter until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs and mix until well incorporated.
  3. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  4. Add the chocolate and the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth, about 90 seconds total.
  5. Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture in the baking dish and spread evenly.
  6. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.
  7. Let set at room temperature for about 10 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife into bars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

About The BakerMama

Maegan is the author of her best-selling Beautiful Boards, Spectacular Spreads and Brilliant Bites cookbooks. She started blogging in 2012 and features hundreds of original recipes on The BakerMama. She truly enjoys sharing her easy, family-friendly recipes, creative meal ideas, food board creations, and entertaining spreads to encourage others to get in the kitchen and make something memorable for their loved ones to enjoy together. Learn More

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Comments

  1. Can you please tell me if you have to use a stand mixer or can I mix this by hand? Chocolate and peanut butter are my favorite, but I don’t have a stand mixer.

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Andee! If you have a hand mixer, that would be the best alternative to really blend the ingredients together. If not, you can definitely use your hands and a sturdy spoon, just make sure the butter is super soft so you can easily stir all of the ingredients together so they’re well incorporated. PB + Chocolate is my fave combo too! Enjoy!