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Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Bars

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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!

Comments

  2. 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!

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

  3. 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

    • 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. 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!!

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