If you love peanut butter cups, these No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are a bigger, better version. They are a great recipe to make with kids and serve at an alfresco meal. If it’s warm outside when you plan to serve them, you may want to refrigerate the bars beforehand. This recipe yields 15 bars, or 30 half-size treats.
Chocolate Crumb Crust
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Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs* (170 grams or 6 ounces)
- 1/4 cup cocoa (25 grams or 1 scant ounce)
- 1/2 cup unsifted powdered sugar (55 grams or 2 ounces)
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted (114 grams or 4 ounces)
*Buy them in crumbs, or run crackers through a food processor.
Combine the crumbs, cocoa, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Mix well. Pour butter over the mixture, and mix with a fork until completely combined. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with parchment. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the shell. Set aside.
Peanut Butter Filling
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cream peanut butter (340 grams or 12 ounces)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, very soft but not runny (114 grams or 4 ounces)
- 1 pound powdered sugar (454 grams
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup 40 percent or heavy cream
Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a mixer. Beat until well combined. Spread over the chocolate crust.
Chocolate Topping
Ingredients
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate (225 grams)
- 1/4 cup Crisco or like shortening (Do not use butter or oil.)
Place ingredients in a small bowl, and microwave at 50 percent power for about two minutes. Stir until smooth. If the chocolate won’t smooth out, microwave at half power for five to 10 more seconds. Wait for a minute, and then stir again. Spread over the peanut-butter filling. Chill until set. Cut bars into desired size.
