These simple, no bake gluten free chocolate peanut butter bars taste like peanut butter cups and are insanely easy to make. Can be made dairy free and vegan.
These gluten free bars are one of my husband’s favorite things that I’ve ever made. I always ask him to rate my recipes on a scale of 1-10. For him, desserts and savory dishes have a different rating system. I haven’t cracked the savory scale yet, as I’m not 100% sure what it takes to get that perfect 10.
He can be picky, although he doesn’t actually think he is. But he’s definitely great for critiquing because he has no problem giving a recipe a 6, which pisses me off. The effort I put into something is worth more than a 6! But honesty is the best policy (gag me) so it does actually help me figure out how to tweak a recipe to make it gold.
GF Peanut Butter Blondies!
Recipes that never need tweaking? Desserts with chocolate and peanut butter. The dessert scale is a scale of itself. For Adam, a recipe can ONLY start at a 10 if it has both chocolate and peanut butter. So if I make a dessert like my strawberry shortcake or blueberry crumb bars, they start out at an 8. You guys, I’m not even joking. I’m dead serious.
If there’s chocolate, it starts at a 9. If there’s peanut butter, it starts at a 9. If there’s BOTH chocolate AND peanut butter, then it has a start value of 10. Asking him to rate a recipe is like asking him to judge gymnastics.
GF Peanut Butter Blossoms. These are one of the favorites!
Wanna know what these gluten free chocolate peanut butter bars got? A 12. TWELVE. Usually, a recipe starts at a 10 (or 8…) and only loses points (too dry, too crumbly, too “I just don’t feel like eating this so I’ll just give it a 7”, etc.). People, these went up in points it was that good. So run, don’t walk, to the kitchen and whip yourself up a batch of these gluten free bars ASAP! Enjoy!
PS my mom used to call these E.T. Bars when she made them for us as kids. We don’t know why.
If you want a delicious version that is vegan, paleo AND dairy free, check out these amazing No Bake Paleo Chocolate Almond Butter Bars made by my good friend Demeter at Beaming Baker!
For more chocolate peanut butter recipes, check out my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Pie (Pizookie), Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms, or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookie Cups.
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Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
These simple, no-bake gluten free chocolate peanut butter bars taste like peanut butter cups and are insanely easy to make. Can be made dairy free and vegan.
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 1/2 C butter (see notes for dairy free)
- 1 C gluten free graham cracker crumbs
- 1 C powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 3/4 C peanut butter (I have not used natural in this recipe)
For the Topping
- 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the butter to a large, microwave safe bowl and heat until melted. Stir in the graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and peanut butter.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir really well and continue to heat at 50% power for 20 second intervals until the chocolate is completely melted. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the graham cracker base and evenly spread it across the top.
- Refrigerate for until the bars are set, about 2 hours. Slice into squares and serve at room temperature or cold. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
- For dairy free, I use palm shortening OR Earth Balance soy-free vegan butter and dairy free chocolate chips. The dairy free version is a bit softer than the regular version but are just as delicious!
- I have also made this by melting the peanut butter with the butter in step 1. It makes it easier to mix but you need to refrigerate it for about 15-20 minutes before pouring the chocolate over the top.
- Adapted from Recipe Tin Eats .
Lizzie says
Recently discovered your blog and I am in love. Made the coconut custard last week and will be making this peanut butter bars this week.
Sharon says
Thanks Lizzie!
Mary Hunt says
Could I substitute powdered sugar with natural Erithrytol
Sharon says
Hi Mary, I’m not sure as I’ve never used Erithrytol in any of my recipes. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Nothing but LOVE for these bars. I would always give anything Chocolate and PB a 10 too 🙂
Heather Kinnaird says
it doesn’t get much better than no-bake with chocolate and peanut butter. my kids are in for a treat after school!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
LOL, I have my husband rate my recipes, too. For a guy who “doesn’t like sweets,” my desserts do pretty darn good! I am so excited to find gluten-free graham crackers to give these a try!
Kelly @ TastingPage says
Two of my favorite ingredients in one bar – I’m in!
amanda -runtothefinish says
thank you for thinking about dairy free right off the bat!!! I am quite certain if a pan of these appeared in front of me, I’d have eaten the whole thing before anyone else got a chance!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Mmm don’t those look to die for! Can’t go wrong with the chocolate PB combo!
Alexa says
Sharon … you are tempting me! These. Look. Delicious. Are the crumbs noticeable in the mixture? Should I aim for superfine?
Sharon says
LOL! To answer your question, the crumbs are not noticeable since they soak up some of the moisture from the peanut butter and butter and give the bars structure. You want them to be fine (no big chunks) but they definitely don’t have to be super fine.
Cricket says
This reminds me of something my grandma used to make, can’t wait to try your version!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia says
Oh man that layer of chocolate!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
Peanut butter and chocolate desserts are the way to my heart, too, and I have no doubt these bars would get at least a 12 in my book, as well. 😉 Too funny that you’ve got a rating system with your husband. I feel like I need to start doing that with mine since he’s my constant taste tester… even though he’s not into chocolate and peanut butter. (FOR SHAME, I know!)
laila says
You’ve combined 2 of my absolute favourite things!! Will be giving your recipe a try. Wonderful post 🙂
Alisa Fleming says
I love peanut butter bars! They’re great out of the freezer, too. But dang, it’s hard to eat just one.
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie says
These look to die for…yumm
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
These look awesome, I’ll take a dozen, please!
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
I need these in my life! Yum!!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean says
I totally agree! Chocolate peanut butter recipes are always a winner!
Nutrimom says
No peanut butter for us but I see a cooking day using SunButter for this!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters says
Sign me up for anything chocolate and peanut butter!
Georgianna says
I shared these on my Facebook earlier in the week, the photo had my mouth watering instantly. They’re so lovely and simple!
Platt College says
These chocolate peanut butter bars look yummy and gluten free to boot!
Michelle says
I just made these and they are in the fridge as we speak so hoping they turn out great as I had to use what I had on hand and felt like I changed half of it. I only had crunchy peanut butter, icing sugar and marie biscuits. I did need to add a little more butter and didn’t read that if you microwaved the peanut better you had to wait an extra 15 min. But hoping for the best haha. Thank you for the recipe hubby will be so happy when he gets homw from work. He also loves chocolate and peanut butter.
Jessica says
How many squares did you get out of these? Trying to figure out what one serving is …
Sharon says
You can cut them into 9 big bars, 12, or 16 – it just depends on how large (or small) you want them to be.
Rachel says
These look great, can’t wait to try them! The ingredients list has sea salt on it, but it’s not noted in the instructions. Do you just sprinkle it on top or do you mix it into one of the layers?
Sharon says
Thanks for catching that Rachel! Add the salt when you add the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs, etc.
Tara says
Where do you find Gluten Free graham cracker crumbs? I’ve never been able to. Thx!
Sharon says
I’m able to find them at my regular grocery stores. Brands I’m usually able to get are Scharr and Kinnikinnick “Smoreables”. I almost always use Kinnikinnick brand: http://amzn.to/2raQtfK (affiliate link)
Maisy says
Wow, those look scrumptious!! I love that they are vegan-friendly as well 🙂
*Maisy
Nicole says
These peanut butter bars look delicious! I’m sure they are. Pinned! Thanks for linking up with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week.
Kim~madeinaday says
these look and sound terrific! Pinned & sharing on FB.Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Have a great week!
Kim
Marie|The Interior Frugalista says
Yes please!!! These are definitely landing in my picnic basket this summer.