No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars
From Great Aunt Kate's Recipe Collection (1940s-1960s): This quick and easy recipe is a classic for a reason — what’s not to love about a no-bake treat that tastes just like a peanut butter cup? The original recipe calls for a full pound of powdered sugar. I made a few adjustments to help control the sweetness by using natural peanut butter (no added sugar) and swapping in dark chocolate for the traditional semi-sweet. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top adds the perfect balance to the sweetness.
Ingredients
Cookie Base
- 5 oz graham crackers (about 1 sleeve plus 1 extra cracker)
- ½ pound salted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup natural peanut butter (crunchy or smooth, no added sugar)
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
Topping
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
Optional Garnish
- Flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Line a 13x9-inch pan with parchment paper for easy removal, or lightly butter the pan.
- In a food processor, pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs.
- Melt butter and stir together with graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl.
- Add peanut butter and mix until smooth.
- Stir in confectioners’ sugar until fully combined - this takes a little effort and the mixture will be thick.
- Press mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Cover with parchment and smooth the surface. Refrigerate or freeze while you melt the chocolate.
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler, or in 20–30 second microwave bursts, stirring until smooth. Spread evenly over the peanut butter layer.
- Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using.
- Chill for about 1 hour, or until chocolate is set.
- Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before slicing into bars.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Yield: About 20 (2-inch) bars
- These bars can be rich and can be cut into smaller squares, of course!