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These no bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Bars are made with layers of crispy Ritz crackers, a gooey filling of butter, graham crackers, and sugar, and a chocolate peanut butter topping. It’s hard to resist one of these homemade candy bars!
Homemade candy bars. Sounds dangerous, right?
I mean, I love a good candy bar and the only thing that keeps me from eating them is that I just convince myself to avert my eyes when we’re in the checkout lane at the grocery store.
But here I am, showing you how to make these magical peanut butter candy bars at home. In your own kitchen. Any time you wish.
Danger, my friends. 😉
The thing is, homemade almost always equals healthier and homemade almost always equals better and homemade definitely always equals…well…me eating more than my fair share of whatever homemade treat it is. Just being honest here. Haha!
The layers of dangerous goodness going on in these peanut butter candy bars is just unreal. Let’s do this!
Ingredient Notes:
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Graham Cracker Layer – You’ll heat together some graham cracker crumbs, butter, milk, white sugar, and packed brown sugar to prepare the gooey, buttery graham cracker layers.
Ritz Crackers – These classic crackers will make up three of the layers in these chocolate peanut butter candy bars. You’ll need two sleeves of Ritz Crackers, or about 75 crackers.
Chocolate Chips – I’m using semi-sweet chocolate chips for the chocolate peanut butter layer but you could use milk chocolate chips or even dark chocolate chips if you prefer.
Peanut Butter – You can use your favorite brand of peanut butter here but I’d probably stick to using a creamy peanut butter.
What We Love About This CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER Recipe:
These homemade candy bars are quick and easy to prepare! It only takes about 10 minutes to make the filling and assemble the layers in this dessert, though it will need to chill in the fridge a bit to set.
How To Make Peanut Butter Candy Bars:
Gooey Layer: This recipe is super simple and you’ll start by adding some graham cracker crumbs, white and brown sugar, butter, and milk to a sauce pan. Bring that mix to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes. This is going to make the Gooey Layer of Goodness. <— Official name.
Ritz Crackers: Next, you’ll grease a 9×13 pan and add a single layer of Ritz crackers along the bottom. Top those crackers with half of the Gooey Layer of Goodness.
Repeat: Now just repeat the layers, ending with more Ritz crackers on top.
Chocolate Peanut Butter: Add some chocolate chips and peanut butter to a bowl and zap it in the microwave until smooth and creamy.
Pour that goodness right over the top.
Chill: You’ll want to let these set up in the fridge for about an hour before you slice and serve. I cut them into squares, but if you really want that candy bar vibe, you can slice into long skinny bars.
THAT’S IT, FRIENDS!
You have homemade candy bars!
FAQ’s:
You can store these peanut butter bars at room temperature in an airtight container for about a week. They’ll last longer in the fridge, and even longer in the freezer!
Sure! There are a few ways you could change this recipe up or modify it. Instead of Ritz Crackers try it with a different type of cracker, such as club crackers or saltines. You can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate instead of semisweet chocolate chips, or use a different variety of nut butter.
MORE HOMEMADE DESSERT RECIPES!
- Cheesecake Bites
- Apple Cobbler
- Blackberry Cobbler
- Easy Homemade Brownies
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Air Fryer Lava Cakes
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup butter cubed
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers about 75 crackers
- 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/4 cups peanut butter
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the cracker crumbs, sugars, butter, and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes more.
- Grease a 9×13 pan and place a single layer of Ritz crackers along the bottom. Top with half of the graham cracker crumb mixture. Repeat layers once and then top with the remaining Ritz crackers.
- In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave on low, stopping to stir occasionally. Do not over cook or the chocolate will burn. Pour over the crackers and refrigerate until firm. Cut into bars and enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in March of 2010. It’s been updated with new text and photos in February of 2020. Original photo below.
Dori Santiago says
I like ve this recipe became I love Chocolate.
However, I can’t have Peanut Butter. May I leave it out?
Karly Campbell says
Yes, I think that would be fine. The chocolate layer will just be more firm/hard as it sets up.
Danae says
My friend made these for our Lent Supper at church last week. They never left the kitchen – these are awesome! They are similar to a Twix Bar recipe I have from a church cookbook, but soooo much gooey-er! I am making them for a potluck tomorrow.
MaryAnn says
The first time I saw this recipe about 25 years ago, it used Keebler Club Crackers when they still came in sheets of 6 to lay in the pan, 2 layers of them. I have used graham crackers successfully also. Wonderful recipe!
Karly says
Kariemae,
I would keep them in the fridge! They get pretty soft at room temp!
Karly
Kariemae says
My family loves them…I just made them this morning. I put them in the fridge to set but if anyone knows….Do they have to stay in the fridge?