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You are here: Home / food / Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars

October 24, 2016 by Abby

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is downright irresistible. At least it is to J and me and, based on the number of people who love store-bought peanut butter cups, we’re just two of millions. I started making a homemade version several years ago. They were rich and smooth and one of the best things we’d ever eaten. Making them, drizzling the melted chocolate into individual muffin liners, was a little tedious, though.


Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

More than a year ago, I had the brilliant idea to make the recipe into bars, to skip the cupcake liners and use a sheet pan instead. Best. Idea. Ever. Now, a recipe that was already impossible to resist is also sinfully simple to make. These homemade peanut butter cup bars are just as good as the homemade peanut butter cups, but they come together so much more quickly. Bonus: they’re gluten free!

 

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars

Ingredients

3 cups chocolate chips, divided (about a bag and a half)
2 cups plus two tablespoons peanut butter, divided
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Melt half of the chocolate with a tablespoon of peanut butter, either in the microwave or on the stove using a double boiler. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, spread the melted chocolate into an even layer. Put the pan in the freezer for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, mix two cups of peanut butter with the vanilla extract, then mix in the powdered sugar. Melt the remaining chocolate with the remaining peanut butter. Remove the first layer of chocolate from the freezer and spread the peanut butter on top. Smooth the rest of the chocolate over that and return to the freezer for ten more minutes. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Notes

You can certainly melt all of the chocolate at once and then just spread half on the tray, but I didn’t want to be that careful about using only half.

These bars are easiest to cut after sitting out of the freezer for a few minutes. Also, you could easily substitute a package of chocolate bark (also gluten free) for the chocolate chips, you just won’t get as rich of a chocolate flavor.

If you love easy dessert recipes, you’ve got to check out crushed Oreo triangles or chocolate chip cream cheese quesadillas!

Don’t forget to pin this Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars recipe to save for later!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars are a no-bake, four-ingredient, gluten-free alternative to the packaged version. So easy, fast, and incredibly tasty!

Filed Under: food, in the kitchen, recipes, sweets — Tagged With: chocolate, dessert, five ingredients or less, food, peanut butter, recipe

Comments

  1. Nicole Neverman says

    January 29, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    These bars sound totally amazing! If you had a spare moment, I would be delighted if you’d drop this (and anything else you’d like to share) by at the #PureBlogLove anything goes link party! You can find me here: http://picnicnz.blogspot.co.nz/

    • Abby says

      January 29, 2015 at 7:26 pm

      Thank you for invite! I just linked up.

  2. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says

    January 29, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    I’m visiting from the PureBlogLove link party – so glad you linked up, because I need these.

    I think they’d make an excellent Valentine’s Day treat for my family. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe. Pinning!

    • Abby says

      January 29, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Thank you for the kind words! I think everyone needs these. And yes, nothing says “I love you” like chocolate and peanut butter!

  3. Cydnee says

    February 3, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    I love chocolate and peanut butter combinations. These bars are right up my alley. Thank you for joining us at #purebloglove. We enjoy having you every Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee

    • Abby says

      February 3, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      Thank you! I’m sure I’ll be back 🙂

  4. Kendel @ Little Misadventures says

    October 24, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    These sound delicious! I think I need to make these so I have a stash for my pregnancy cravings!

    • Abby says

      October 25, 2016 at 11:22 am

      Yes, you do! Mama needs protein from the peanut butter 🙂 I haven’t tried, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t freeze well.

  5. Kelsie says

    October 24, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Peanut butter cups are seriously my favorite thing ever…so I’m completely sold on these!! Can’t wait to try them soon….I’m eating for two right? HA! Sharing!!

    • Abby says

      October 25, 2016 at 11:23 am

      You’re totally eating for two, and you need protein. 🙂

  6. GiGi Eats says

    October 26, 2016 at 8:54 am

    Oh and SWOON! Hellooooo delicious! I am pretty much cat-calling these peanut butter cup bars lol!

    • Abby says

      October 26, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      No judgement here! They’re THAT good.

  7. catherine says

    October 26, 2016 at 9:31 am

    This looks delish. Thanks for the inspo. I was trying to figure out what I should bring to my girlfriend’s Halloween party. 🙂

    • Abby says

      October 26, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      Glad I could help! These will definitely be a hit.

  8. adriana says

    October 26, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    These look SO amazing!! I’m obsessed with Reeses – so I can only imagine how much I’d love these! They look amazing!!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks, Adriana! You’d LOVE these!

  9. Amanda says

    October 27, 2016 at 9:31 am

    Yum! I’ll have to make a pan to use for Christmas gifts. If I don’t give them I’ll end up eating them all myself!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      Thanks, Amanda! They’d be a hit, and they’re gluten free!

  10. Tina says

    October 27, 2016 at 10:51 am

    These make me feel like a child again! LOVE these:)

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      What a fun compliment. Thanks, Tina!

  11. Krisytn says

    October 28, 2016 at 9:34 am

    These look amazing. I love love love peanut butter. Yum!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      Right? Who doesn’t, especially with chocolate?

  12. Betsy Dirks says

    October 29, 2016 at 6:29 am

    These are going to make my family so happy. 😀 Can’t wait to try them!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      You’re welcome, Betsy! Let me know what they think!

  13. Kim @ Three Olives Branch says

    October 30, 2016 at 10:21 am

    Yum! Great idea to make it faster and easier by making them into bars instead!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks, Kim! Bars are my new favorite thing. They’re SO easy.

  14. Kitty says

    October 30, 2016 at 11:19 am

    These look dangerous! Like eat them in one sitting dangerous!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      YES! They should definitely come with a warning.

  15. chellie says

    October 30, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    Peanut butter cups are my weakness!! Love this homemade version!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Mine, too! They’re SO good!

  16. Fiona says

    October 31, 2016 at 8:59 am

    Peanut butter and chocolate are my total weakness – I love how easy these bars are!

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Mine, too Fiona! It’s an irresistible combination!

  17. Michelle says

    October 31, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    I love the idea of making these into bars!

    What type of peanut butter do you like using?

    • Abby says

      November 5, 2016 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks, Michelle! I use whatever smooth peanut butter I have on hand, which is usually Jif. You could use crunchy if you prefer.

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