Home » Cookies » Bar Cookies » Better Than Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
posted by Liz Berg
on August 29, 2023
These Better Than Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars are totally irresistible!!! I promise, if you’re a Reese’s fan, you will be swooning with every bite.
No baking is needed to make these outrageously delicious, super easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, so mix up a batch for the Reese’s lovers in your life. You will be rewarded with an abundance of compliments and requests for this Reeses Bar recipe!
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 Ingredient Notes
3 Recipe Tips
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 You May Also Like:
6 Better Than Reese's Peanut Butter Bars
Why You Must Make
- After I tasted these easy peanut butter bars at a neighborhood cookie exchange, I knew I’d have to make them.
- This is a super simple, no-bake recipe that’s perfect for any chocolate-peanut butter lover.
- If you love Reese’s peanut butter cups, you’ll be thrilled with these peanut butter bars.
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Butter (salted is fine in this recipe as it enhances the flavor)
- Graham Cracker Crumbs – You may use premade graham cracker crumbs in a box or grind your own in a food processor.
- Powdered Sugar – Sift before using to avoid lumps.
- Smooth Peanut Butter – Jif brand is our preference but any favorite brand will work. Don’t use natural peanut butter as it will be too thin.
- Semisweet Chocolate Bars or Chocolate Chips – Ghirardelli is my brand of choice but Nestles works well, too.
- Vegetable Oil – Use a neutral flavored oil like canola. Don’t use olive oil.
Recipe Tips
When I first posted this recipe in 2010, I only used half the peanut butter layer ingredients. Delicious, of course, but I love to sink my teeth into a thick, decadent bar cookie. I tweaked the recipe and came up with these new and improved thicker peanut butter bars!
- PRO-Tip: Line your baking pan with non-stick foil. The reason is two-fold. First, the ingredients won’t stick to the sides of the pan. Second, the foil makes a sling with which you can lift the bars up out of the pan and place them on a cutting board. So much easier than trying to slice in the pan.
- Use salted butter. The sweet-salty effect is irresistible. But don’t worry, they’re not salty tasting, but just right.
- Use milk chocolate instead of semisweet if that’s your preference. That may produce a flavor combo closer to a Reese’s Cup, but semisweet is my preference.
- The oil added to the chocolate mixture helps give the topping a little sheen.
- My original recipe called for chocolate chips, but I find they don’t melt as smoothly as a chopped semisweet chocolate bar. Using either will be tasty.
- Note that 1 cup of chocolate chips is 6 ounces of chocolate. I used 1 1/2 bars of Ghirardelli semisweet chocolatethat I find at the supermarket or Target. Watch for sales and stock up!
- PRO-Tip: If your bars are really well chilled when you cut them, the chocolate will crack. Let them sit at room temperature before slicing or use a hot, dry knife.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make Even Layers?
For the crust, you can use the flat bottom of a measuring cup to pan it into an even layer. For the peanut butter and chocolate layers, use an offset spatula to level them as you spread.
How Do You Slice Peanut Butter Bars?
Chill them first, then use the foil to lift them out of the pan and place them on a cutting board. Give them a little time to sit out at room temperature so the chocolate isn’t ice cold, but still well chilled.
Slice with a hot dry knife, wiping it clean between slices if needed. Running the knife blade through very hot tap water will warm the blade nicely. Dry the blade before slicing. Since the chocolate is cold, the topping could crack if you try to cut them without heating the knife blade.
How Do You Store Peanut Butter Bars?
After you slice them, place them in an airtight container, with parchment or wax paper between the layers so they don’t stick to each other. They’ll keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
These bars will also freeze well for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
You May Also Like:
- Peanut Butter Cake Roll from Crazy for Crust
- Homemade Reese’s Bars – Almost the same recipe, but with a thinner peanut butter layer
- Tagalong Bars
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Tiger Bark
- Stuffed Peanut Butter Krispie Treats
- Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies
- Best Peanut Butter Lovers Recipes
- More Bar Cookie Recipes
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The Recipe:
Better Than Reese's Peanut Butter Bars
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Yield16 bars
A no-bake chocolate and peanut butter treat that will satisfy your Reese's cravings!
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Layer:
- 12 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
Chocolate Topping:
- 6 ounces semi sweet chocolate, chopped finely or 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and peanut butter in a medium bowl.
- When well combined, pat into a well greased or foil lined 8 x 8-inch pan. Refrigerate while preparing the opping.
- Melt chocolate chips and oil together in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so, till smooth.
- Spread over the top of the peanut butter layer.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting.
Notes
Adapted from a combination of recipes. Lining with non-stick foil makes for easy cleanup and easy removal from the pan.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 bar
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 325Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 195mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 23gProtein: 5g
HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?
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Bar Cookies Cookies Desserts Entertaining
posted by Liz Berg on August 29, 2023
24 Comments // Leave a Comment »
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Healthy World Cuisine — Reply
Who knew something this delicious could be so easy to make. I don’t know if our edges will be as perfectly carved as yours but we will sure enjoy eating these better than Reeses peanut butter bars.
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Ben | havocinthekitchen — Reply
Better Than Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars? That’s a bold statement, Liz haha! But I’d actually agree – they look irresistibly delicious and inviting! And I also like that you can use dark chocolate glaze for balancing out the sweetness (Reese’s candy is super sweet to my liking.)
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Kim Beaulieu — Reply
These bars are spectacular. Every time I make them the family inhales them so fast.
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angiesrecipes — Reply
We are fans of anything peanut butter! These definitely look so much better than Reese, Liz.
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com -
Erica Schwarz — Reply
These are fantastic! OMGsh so good, we loved this recipe thank you.
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Penni — Reply
I love reeses but I wish there was a recipe without so much sugar! They are good but just too sweet. Same amount of sugar as peanut butter. Hmmm.
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Liz Berg — Reply
I hear you!! I usually just have a sliver and hope my willpower holds out!
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Bethany — Reply
Oh! These bars look amazing! I want one right now!!
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Karly — Reply
All. That. peanut butter. I NEEEED these in my life as soon as possible!
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cheri — Reply
This is one of my favorite combinations, the only problem is no self control when it comes to peanut butter and chocolate. Love these!!!
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GiGi Eats — Reply
OMG mouth is DROOOOOOOLING so hard right now! SO HARD – these look so so so so so so so good!
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Claudia Lamascolo — Reply
On my list to make!
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anadimae — Reply
Liz, You just keep turning out deliciousness~!~! We ALL would enjoy these. No wonder you are so thin..you do all the work and your family has all the fun~!
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Lizzy — Reply
Jane, another friend recommended that non-stick foil…so maybe that’s the solution. Good to see you posting!!!
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Jane — Reply
Lizzy, have you tried lining the pan with foil? You can hang the edges over the pan, pull it the foil out once it’s set, flatten out the foil and cut the bars. Or you could make them in disposable pans and cut the ends and flatten it too.
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Lizzy — Reply
You all make me laugh!!!
Deanna, I knew I liked your taste!
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Crow4ever — Reply
Lizzy … Alex will love this recipe! Peanut Butter and Chocolate – two of the best ingredients in the world (his logic)!
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Erica — Reply
Lizzy……..OMG!!! Yum, I’m a Reese’s fan, please stop with all your recipes, I’m going to have to join WW soon. 🙂
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Deanna Larson — Reply
Liz, OMG are you tryin’ to kill us here?!! I will make these this week — thinking they fit into high-protein Atkins-ish diet, right? lol Denial is also a river in Egypt and I won’t hear differently. BTW I have nearly the exact same granite, cabinets and pulls!
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Lizzy — Reply
Patti, the first one is a bit hard to get out of the pan. I use an off-set spatula to get under each bar. Even if they’re not bakery perfect, they’re definitely tasty! Your school friends will be impressed!!!
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Patticake — Reply
Oh gosh, liz, my favorite combination, I’m a Reese’s cup freak anyway! I might do this this weekend for my friends at school on Monday. Thanks for posting.
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Janelle — Reply
Mmmm. Yum! These will be on the list for this week. The kids will love ’em.
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Lizzy — Reply
Thanks, Kelly!
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Kelly — Reply
another wonderful recipe!!!
