Kitchn Love Letters

The No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars All My Friends Beg Me to Make (They Taste Just Like a Reese’s Cup!)

Lauren Miyashiro
Lauren MiyashiroExecutive Editor, The Kitchn
I've been in digital food media for 13+ years, although I’ve also dabbled in magazines and cookbooks. I was previously at Food Network and Delish (where I once made a 10-pound bagel ... YouTube it!). My focus started in recipes, but now I obsess over everything possibly related to home cooking.
published Jul 20, 2024
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stack of peanut butter bars
Credit: Photo: Lucy Schaeffer; Food Styling: Nicole Rufus

Close friends know that I am a big-time chocolate-lover. If there’s no chocolate in the dessert you’re offering me, chances are high that I’ll politely decline. Even bigger than my enthusiasm for chocolate though, is my love for the specific combination of chocolate and peanut butter. This duo makes me weak in the knees and it truly came as a shock to me when I realized not everyone cares for it. 

I love the combo so much, that when the craving strikes, I’ll sometimes eat a spoonful of peanut butter with some chocolate chips sprinkled on top. When I’m not so lazy, there are plenty of chocolate and peanut butter recipes to choose. Copycat Costco Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie! Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars! Reese’s. Stuffed. Rice Krispies. My go-to is the simplest: Patty Catalano’s No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars. You only need five ingredients and 15 minutes to make them. 

Get the recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

What Makes These No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars So Good

First things first: They taste just like a Reese’s cup, maybe even better. Combining smooth peanut butter (I’m a big-time Skippy fan and our gigantic peanut butter taste test confirmed it’s the best no-stir option!) with powdered sugar, butter, and crushed graham crackers perfectly mimics the beloved PB cup filling. In these bars however, it’s a thicker layer, which I feel most Reese’s fans would rejoice over. 

Then there’s the chocolate layer. To help it solidify, Patty ever-so-smartly calls for mixing in just a bit more peanut butter into the melted chocolate chips. The logic is similar to a magic shell topping, but there’s no cracking involved. Plus, it infuses an extra little nuttiness throughout. It’s cliche to say nowadays when you’re talking about recipes, but the toughest part is really waiting for them to firm up in the fridge. I promise you anyone can pull them off. 

Get the recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars