The Most Amazing No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

I can still remember the first time I tried these peanut butter chocolate squares. I was working at an ad agency in Chicago back in the mid-80s, and it was the last day of work before Christmas. Tired and groggy after a holiday party the night before, an intern came into my work area (like an elf) and placed a napkin with a large square of this confection on my desk first thing in the morning. It did not seem like breakfast food, but I had to have a bite. When I tasted it, I thought it was the best thing I ever ate. It was a sweet base of peanut butter with layer of rich chocolate.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

I just had to have the recipe, so she wrote it out for me on a large pastel yellow post-it note (the only color they had back then). I still have it to this day. The next year I made it for Christmas and placed a few of them in small boxes for each of my friends. Today my (now I claim them as my own) peanut butter chocolate candy has become a holiday tradition.

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I started making this candy every year. It is the perfect gift-giving treat! (See how to ship Christmas candy at the end of this post.) The recipe makes 70 so there are plenty to go around. The fun part for me is to find unusual boxes, glasses, soap holders, tiny trays and vessels in which to wrap them up and present as a little gift. My family also looks forward to eating them every year. I don’t have to bake, but I do have to make my peanut butter chocolate squares.

These peanut butter chocolate squares are no-bake and easy. They are fun to make, even at the last minute for the holidays, for Valentine’s Day or any time of the year. I have added a few of my own notes to my oblong yellow post it through the years because I have found some tips and tricks to make them easier which I will share with you.

pesnut butter chocoalte cups fountainof30

 

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

Prep Time: 30 minutes  |  Additional Time: 1-1/2 hours

peanut butter chocoalte squares ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 sticks butter (softened)
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 lb X-sugar (powdered)
  • 1 generous cup graham cracker crumbs (or 8 sheets of 4 crackers)
  • 1 bag 12 oz chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and peanut butter.
  2. Mix in powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs (with bare hands).
  3. Knead and press into 9 x 13 pan or cookie sheet.
  4. Melt chocolate chips over low heat. Spread on top of peanut butter mixture.
  5. Cut before it hardens (after about 1-1/2 hours). Cut into squares (approximately 1-1/4” X 1-1/4”- 10 across and 7 down) and serve! Keep refrigerated.

Tips and Tricks for Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

I have at least 30 years of experience, so I have experimented with the recipe and here is what I have found.

  • I tried milk chocolate chips (thinking they may taste more like a Reese’s cup) and they are good if you’d like to try them (they did not taste more like a Reese’s cup) but I prefer the bolder semi-sweet chips flavor for the recipe.
  • Between creamy and chunky peanut butter I found it is a toss up. Both are good, but I prefer smooth because it is a bit easier to mix, perhaps because it offers more moisture.
  • Pre-ground graham crackers are fine if you want to save time, but I like the texture and flavor of making my own crumbs. I prefer “honey” graham crackers (they can be any brand, I know, I have tried many).
  • Should you use salted or unsalted butter? I tried unsalted and adding the salt, and there was not much difference. I prefer salted butter so I am sure the salt is distributed evenly.
  • The recipe calls for “creaming” the sugar and peanut butter but I don’t use a hand mixer. I tried it and it works, too but then you have more utensils to clean up! I cream it by hand with a wooden spoon which works just fine. Just make sure the butter is softened. I have never melted the butter so I don’t know how that will work.
  • The chocolate chips melt best over low heat on a stove. Watch them carefully, and remove them just before all the chips are melted. They will continue to melt. Make sure the pan is dry and without a drop water, which can make the chocolate lumpy. Do not over-heat or the texture can get lumpy and I don’t recommend the microwave for that same reason.
  • The squares should be refrigerated since there is butter in them, but they can stay out at room temperature all day. However, they usually get gobbled up much sooner!
Cream butter and peanut butter.
Softened Butter and peanut butter
Cream butter and peanut butter with wooden spoon.
Add confectioners sugar fountainof30
Add confectioners sugar.
batter
Batter is thick but keep mixing!
Make your own graham cracket crumbs by rolling in a large bag.
Make your own graham cracker crumbs by rolling 8 sheets of 4 in a large freezer bag.
graham cracker crumbs to the mixture
Add the graham cracker crumbs to the mixture.
mixture into a 9 X 13 pan
Dump mixture into a 9 X 13 pan.
batter in pan
Fill the pan with batter.
Mash down with spoon and/or knead with bar hands until mixture comes together.
Press down batter onto bottom of the pan.
Melt chocolate chips on stove.
Remove from stove just before all chips have melted. They will continue to melt.

Immediately pour melted chocolate chips over batter.

Distribute chocolate evenly.
Let set for approximately 1-1/2 hours before chocolate hardens.
Cut into approximately 1-1/4 Inch squares.
9 cuts across and 6 cuts down works well to yield 70 bars.
Remove bars carefully with knife or small spatula.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares are perfect for gift-giving.
Yield: 70

Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares

peanut butter chocolatre squares fountainof30

These peanut butter chocolate squares are delicious, no-bake and easy-to-make. They are perfect for gift giving.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 sticks butter (softened)
  • 
1 cup peanut butter
  • 
1 lb X-sugar (powdered)

  • 1 generous cup graham cracker crumbs (or 8 sheets of 4 crackers)
  • 
1 bag 12 oz chocolate chips

Instructions

    1. Cream butter and peanut butter.

    2. Mix in powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs (with bare hands).

    3. Knead and press into 9 x 13 pan or cookie sheet.
    4. Melt chocolate chips over low heat.

    5. Spread on top of peanut butter mixture.
    6. Cut before hardens (after about 1-1/2 hours).

Notes

Cut into squares (approximately 1-1/4” X 1-1/4”- 10 across and 7 down) and serve! Keep refrigerated.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

70

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 77Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 27mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 0g

How To Ship Christmas Candy

wrapped gift boxes fountainof30

These peanut butter squares are perfect for gift-giving. Place around a dozen candy squares in a flat box lined with cellophane, foil or saran wrap. Or place them in a clear treat bag with a ribbon or twist tie and then in the box.

I found these 6″ x 4″ boxes at a dollar store. Set up a production line if you have several gifts to prepare. If necessary, you can line the lid in tissue to keep the candy from shifting during shipping.

Tie a curling ribbon or string around each box to secure it. Add a pretty gift tag with a note! If you are giving the box to someone in person you can use a larger and more dramatic bow, but curling ribbon or the like is thin and keeps the box flat for shipping.

bubble wrap holiday gift box fountainof30

Then wrap each box in bubble wrap, tape in a few places to secure, and slip in a 9 x 12 envelope. I found a small roll of bubble wrap and pack of 5 envelopes at the dollar store. It cost under $10 each to ship via USPS to my friends locally and in other states in the U.S.

Carol Calacci

You may also like more of our recipes like Peanut Butter Protein Bites That Are Delicious and Gluten Free! and How To Make The Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photos: Fountain Of 30

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