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These 5 Ingredient Triple Decker Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are like a homemade peanut butter cup, but in bar form. A thick milk chocolate base, layered with a sweet and super creamy peanut butter filling, then covered entirely by another thick layer of milk chocolate. So much better than overly sugary store-bought peanut butter cups. And the best part? These are SO easy to make. They call for only 5 pantry staple ingredients and require zero baking. You cannot go wrong with this triple decker chocolate peanut butter bar. Nothing not love.
Happy Friday everyone! I have to say, this time leading up to and in between Christmas and the New Year truly is the best. Everything is laid back with relaxed holiday vibes. We have most of our family here through New Years and even though I’m working today, it’s nice to have everyone around…and so many people to cook for. I know I say this often, but the reason I love to cook is because I love to cook for others. I love being in the kitchen while the family hangs out. It’s where I find myself most comfortable (probably because I can’t sit still…I get antsy quick).
Anyway, I hope you’re all soaking up these slower days with family and friends. Today I have the best, super easy dessert to share. I’ll be keeping the posts on the shorter side through New Year’s Day. Then back to my regular ramblings (aside from Sunday Favorites post, of course) after the New Year!
Onto all the delicious details of these EASY chocolate peanut butter bars.
How to make these easiest chocolate peanut bars.
This is a recipe that I made years and years ago, but completely forget about it. It’s obviously no secret that I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter (see these cookies and this cake), but the simplicity of these bars is just SO GOOD.
Let me break the bars down layer by layer…
The first layer, sweet milk chocolate.
Layer two, light and extra creamy peanut butter (that is perfectly sweet, buttery, and a touch salty too).
Layer three, sweet milk chocolate.
So incredibly simple. So incredibly GOOD.
The secrets?
The two thick layers of chocolate and the extra thick layer of creamy peanut butter.
For the chocolate layers, the key is to melt the chocolate together with a spoonful of peanut butter. This keeps the chocolate from cracking when you go to cut through the bars. Why does this matter? Well, the peanut butter filling is so light and creamy that if the chocolate was difficult to cut through, the filling would just squeeze right out of the center.
Still good, but obviously not ideal.
As for the filling, it’s very simple. Peanut butter, salted butter, vanilla, and confectioners’ sugar. The key? Whip the peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy, then add the vanilla and sugar. This gives you a “whipped” peanut butter filling, and trust me, it’s insanely delicious.
My biggest tip? Keep the bars chilled. They will soften at room temperature and be a little messy to eat, so enjoy these straight out of the fridge.
To sum this dessert up real quick, these bars are similar to a giant peanut butter cup. But so much better because the chocolate to peanut butter ratio is perfect…just the right amounts of chocolate to peanut butter.
I’ll be making these bars for New Year’s Eve this year, they are so simple. They aren’t all that fancy, but that doesn’t seem to matter. People just cannot get enough of these bars.
Sometimes simple is best, and these bars will be the perfect sweet dessert to ring in the New Year…and new decade for that matter!
If you make these 5 ingredient triple decker chocolate peanut butter bars, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
5 Ingredient Triple Decker Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Servings: 16 bars
Calories Per Serving: 277 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups + 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-2 cups confectioners sugar using more or less to your taste
- 3 cups semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- 1. Line an 8x8 inch square pan with parchment paper.2. In a small bowl, melt together 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and 2 tablespoon peanut butter in the microwave until melted. Pour the chocolate into the prepared pan and tap against the counter until the chocolate is in an even layer. Transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes to set. 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter, vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth and creamy. Taste and add more confectioners' sugar to your liking.4. Spoon the peanut butter mixture over the chocolate layer into a smooth layer. Transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes to set. 5. Melt the remaining 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and 2 tablespoon peanut butter in the microwave until melted. Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter layer, smooth the chocolate out into an even layer. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until set. Slice into bars (see tip below). Keep bars stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Notes
Tip For Cutting:Â First, make sure the bars are really cold and the filling is completely set. I'd recommend freezing the bars for 15 minutes to really give them a good chill. Then, run a really sharp chef's knife under hot water, quickly dry the knife off and then cut into bars.Â
Lovely lady, be thankful for what you have. In a year all this worry and stress will be just a memory, something you’ll probably laugh about.
I wish I had a kitchen that wasn’t infested with cockroaches and a disgusting housemate who never, ever cleans up after himself.
I never cook or bake (things I love to do!) because I try to avoid our kitchen at all costs. PS-these look fabulous. One day!
You are SO right! It’s hard to remember in the moment.
Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Anything with peanut butter catches my attention. So when I saw this recipe on Foodgawker I just had to click! I’m so glad I did because I got to discover your gorgeous blog.
AWE!! Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend!
I thought you were going to be healthier in january
Haa! I was hopping Fridays did not count?
Have a great weekend!
uh, yum!!! chocolate peanut butter heaven!
Thanks so much, Robyn!
Just remember…it will all be worth it! But, yes, that’s super frustrating because lights and other buttons are important!!! I gave up sugar for 100 days but this recipe is killing me! I’m pinning it to make as soon as I am back on the bandwagon 🙂
Ha, yes I need to just keep telling myself that! 🙂
Thanks Bri and have a great weekend!
Hellooooo 5 ingredient bliss! Sign me up for a batch of these. I can imagine how frustrating it was that they installed the hood backwards. Any type of construction or renovation in the home is frustrating because something is bound to go wrong and you are never alone, like ever. You always have people working around you and noise…bleh! On a positive note, hopefully the new guy will install it in less than a day! Are you going to post progress photos or videos or wait until the grand reveal?
Thanks Christina!!
And I do know, any thoughts on this? Would you like another post?
These look so good! Kind of like a Reese’s, but soft and fluffy inside. And thicker and all-around more substantial. I’ll try to make these next time I have lots of company over – when it’s just my husband and I, I don’t trust us not to eat the whole pan in a day or two 🙂
Thanks Alexa! Hope you guys love these!!
These look insane! I’m pretty sure if you tell your electrician about these he’ll be pounding down the door to finish up his jobs and eat one of these 🙂
Haha! I actually do not even think these would do it. He is one of a kind…
Thanks Sarah!
I feel for you…construction and installation are always filled with so many challenges. But always speak up if there’s an issue, or you’ll silently be frustrated every time you look at something that isn’t the way you wanted it. And the bars, they look so good….I want to just pull them open like an oreo and just eat two halves, open faced with all of that creamy peanut butter yumminess!
I agree, you have to speak up…a little easier said then done!
Thanks so much and have a great weekend!!
We are contemplating a kitchen reno. I really really want it but know I will go to the nutty house before it is over. But these bars. They must be the cure for everything!
Oh man, just be sure you are ready for a little stress! YIKES.
Thanks so much, Emily! Have a great weekend!
There is nothing like beating the remodeling kitchen time blues with decadent chocolate peanut bars! Yummy! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Right?!?!
Thanks so much, Sommer and have a great weekend!
OHMYGAHYES to these.
Thanks Stephanie! Have a great weekend!
Hmm WOW. These look absolutely insane! Not sure I could keep these bars around the house…pinned!
Thanks Jess! Have a great weekend!
OMG this looks so awesome it’s like a reese’s cake thing omg yes
Thanks Millie! Have a great weekend!
Peanut butter chocolate bars can be a cure for anything that gets you down. These look mouthwatering, I can’t wait to give them a try. It looks like a fun mother/daughter recipe.
AGREE! 🙂
Thanks so much, Diane and have a great weekend!