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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: 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.
These bars look so naughty but I don’t care. I’ve been trying to find a good wholesome peanut butter for a while now – as soon as I do I’ll be whipping these up! Thanks for sharing such a toothsome recipe!
Thank you so much! Hope you love these!
Looks perfect for my hubby’s game day .
Thanks Lori!
Chocolate and peanut butter is one of my fave combos too! These drool-worthy bars have my jaw on the floor still! I hope they come with a gym membership. Pinned!
LOL! Thanks so much!
wow. right before i started my diet recently i bought some high end chocolate and peanut butter ice cream, and it was to die for. These look even better. wow.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Gosh, this looks like such a great treat.
Thank you so much, Shinee! 🙂
I am so with you–chocolate and peanut butter never fails. Sign me up for this recipe! Good luck with the rest of the remodel! I’ve been through that before, and while it is so difficult in the moment, the end result is so worth it! 🙂
Thank you so much, Michelle! Hope you enjoyed your weekend!
These definitely are not one for the ‘detox’ month I am on at the moment! May have to break it on the excuse of these as they look delicious! L x
Yes, find and excuse! 🙂
Thanks!
Goodness, these bars look insanely yummy! Thank you for the recipe!
YUM!! I just made peanut butter pretzel bites – similar to yours but pretzels added in. http://prairiekuchen.com/2015/01/peanut-butter-pretzel-bites/
I just finished them up – I’m going to have to try your bars now!! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Jodi! Those bites look delicious!!
Made these today think next time ima add some cream to the chocolate to make it sweeter! ^-^!
I’m also gonna chop it up put it in my organic yogurt ice cream!
WHOA! YUM!
oh yum!!
We couldn’t be more on the same page today…so sorry about your range hood, but so happy about these bars!!
Thank you!
These bars are killer, just what my Friday needs. Love!!
Thanks Laura!
You are going to look back on this maybe a week from now and it won’t even matter to you anymore, trust me! These bars look just perfect..love that you got that layer of chocolate on the bottom…two is always better than one, especially when chocolate is involved 😉
LOL! You are so right. Thanks so much, Denise!
Have a great weekend!
Wow, you just created my own kind of heaven. Peanut Butter is my most favorite food group :)!! I’m sorry about your week, I hope things get resolved very, very soon!
Thank you so much, Brittney!!
Have a great weekend!
Not to worry. In a few weeks, you’ll be able to write such a funny send up of all this that the people on the next blog over will be laughing!
I don’t have a kitchen renovation going on (but I will be having a bathroom redone next month).
But I need, yes, need, to make the bars … because I have three males in the house, including a four-legged one and a pre-teen.
Just one question: What is the weight — ounces or grams — of the chocolate? I don’t use chips but bars if they have to be melted in the recipe.
Thank you very much. I have made other recipes from you, and they always come out beautifully!
Thank so much!!
I am not 100% sure what the weight is, but I would use 8 ounces of chocolate per layer, so 16 ounces total. Does that help? Hope you love these!!