These no bake Peanut Butter Pie Bars were a big hit in our house — and when I tried to hide the last one from the rest of the family, I discovered that they’re fantastic frozen, too!
I’ve been hitting the no bake bars pretty hard lately, I can still taste those tangy LEMON CRUNCH BARS and then there were the COOKIES AND CREAM COOKIE DOUGH BARS just before that, but it’s all in the name of culinary experimentation, and you guys are getting some great easy last minute dessert ideas to carry you through the upcoming season, so I don’t want to hear any complaints! Let’s face it, there are cake people, there are pie people, and there are bar people. I think it’s clear where I come down. I just don’t do fancy, glamorous desserts very often— but the flavor is what’s important, and these peanut butter pie bars have it all going on.
You can’t go wrong when you combine two simple, classic flavors that everyone loves. These have a nice chocolate cookie crumb crust, and a fluffy creamy peanut butter topping. There is NO added sugar in the bars themselves so, while I can’t exactly call these light, they aren’t overly sweet. The chocolate sauce is just like Hershey’s Syrup, and so easy to make. Use it on ice cream, or to make chocolate milk, too.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (I used Nabisco Famous Wafers)
- 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9x9 square baking dish and line it with parchment paper, leaving the ends to hang off the edges. This 'sling' will allow you to lift it out after chilling, for easier cutting. This step is optional.
- Toss the crumbs with the melted butter until all the crumbs are completely and evenly saturated. Press them evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Combine the peanut butter and the sweetened condensed milk in a bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds (to soften the peanut butter.) Blend the two together until smooth.
- Whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Then gently blend in the peanut butter mixture. Keep folding in until no streaks are left.
- Spread the mixture out onto the crust. Scatter the mini chips over the top and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Serve drizzled with the chocolate sauce.
- Store the bars in the refrigerator. They are also good frozen.
- To make the chocolate syrup, Put the water, sugar, and cocoa powder in a sauce pan and gradually bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve everything. Let the sauce boil gently for several minutes until it just starts to thicken. Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla. The sauce will thicken further as it cools. It will keep in the refrigerator for a month.
notes:
- I like NABISCO FAMOUS WAFERS for the best flavor in the crust, but they can be pricey. You could substitute any other chocolate cookie like Oreos, or chocolate graham crackers.
- If your peanut butter and condensed milk mixture is very stiff, add a little more milk to smooth it out.
- If you have trouble blending the peanut butter mixture into the whipped cream, you don’t have to fold, you can beat it together. Just don’t beat too long or too hard or your cream will turn to butter.
- Love peanut butter desserts? How about trying this AMISH PEANUT BUTTER PIE?
Don’t forget to pin these Peanut Butter Pie Bars!
24 Comments
Carolyn G
December 5, 2016 at 1:38 pmAnyone know the conversion to make a larger 9×13 pan size portion?
Sue
May 31, 2018 at 6:29 pmI think you’d be safe doubling the recipe, Carolyn.
Susan
April 3, 2016 at 6:51 amDeliciously dangerous! I know two little boys and one big one who would love them!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
March 31, 2016 at 11:30 amPeanut butter and chocolate are a dream team, ain’t they? These bars look luscious and very tempting!
grace
March 31, 2016 at 5:31 amluscious! i’d take that peanut butter filling just in a bowl!
Sue
March 31, 2016 at 11:12 amIt’s dangerous…
Allen
March 31, 2016 at 1:42 amOh, this looks so good! God bless you and yours. In Christ, Allen.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
March 30, 2016 at 11:10 pmWhat fabulous bars, I know I would need to stash these away in the depths of the freezer and try my best to forget about them!
Sara
March 30, 2016 at 6:56 pmYou can never go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter and I LOVE that they’re no bake, a perfect project to do with the kids!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
March 30, 2016 at 4:32 pmYum! Can’t beat peanut butter and chocolate. Love these and no-bake is even better :)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
March 30, 2016 at 2:07 pmOMG Sue! These look crazy good! Can’t wait to try them out the next time I have friends over! I would be afraid to make them when I’m home alone!! No willpower!!
Sue
March 30, 2016 at 5:49 pmNone of us could resist, even ‘hiding’ them in the freezer didn’t work!
Amy @ Accidental Happy Baker
March 30, 2016 at 12:14 pmI love this, “there are cake people, there are pie people, and there are bar people.” I have a very large extended family, so I totally hear you on wanting to make recipes that make enough for a crowd and don’t take a ton of time. By the way, my family would love these, so I’m pinning them for them. (I’m the peanut butter black sheep.)
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
March 30, 2016 at 11:33 amYou really are so creative with your bars, Sue! I’m a bar person and I can’t walk past a bakery without drooling over Nanaimo bars, lol. These are even better because they are a chocolate lover’s dream!
Sue
March 30, 2016 at 11:55 amNanaimos are on my to-do list, Robyn :)
Dana
March 30, 2016 at 11:25 amThis looks and sounds delicious. Gotta love desserts that you don’t have to bother baking :)
Sue
March 30, 2016 at 11:26 amEspecially as we head into summer — I keep my fridge stocked!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
March 30, 2016 at 11:20 amI know these would make me feel better – chocolate and peanut butter is a personal favorite of mine. I can’t wait to have an excuse to make these! They are gorgeous!
Karly
March 30, 2016 at 10:53 amThis is my kind of dessert right here, yum!
Peter
March 30, 2016 at 10:43 amMy kids would go gaga over this one. Sharing on FB & G+ too!
Sue
March 30, 2016 at 10:44 amThese are kid pleasers, for sure ~
Lucy
March 30, 2016 at 10:36 amOh my gosh, this is the recipe I have been searching for! My husband loves peanut butter, but he hates cream cheese, and most peanut butter pies have cream cheese in the filling. I can’t wait to try this out. He will go crazy for it!
Sue
March 30, 2016 at 10:44 amI’m so glad you mentioned that Lucy, I think cream cheese and peanut butter sounds awful! I hope he likes this :)
Chris Scheuer
March 30, 2016 at 10:09 amWow! I would have to hide these from myself. Chocolate and peanut butter are an impossible to resist combination!