These bars are decadent, indulgent, ridiculously easy, and exactly the kind of treat worth making. They are not pretending to be a healthy dessert. Five ingredients, about 10 minutes of work, and no oven required.
I am not a baker, I am a home-cook. Savoury dishes are my wheelhouse, where creative license with ingredients and quantities is frequently rewarded. Baking doesn’t allow for free spirits in the kitchen nor feral home cooks (those are the best kinds). Baking requires adherence to ingredient quantities and timing. This recipe however is a baking outlier, my favourite kind, as the ingredients are flexible, there is no actual baking. So if you are feeling a bit creative, feel free to add some nuts, dried fruits, krispy cereal, or whatever suits your fancy.
When I first made these bars, they reminded me of my childhood. One of my friends had a housekeeper, that would frequently leave the family some peanut butter bars on her way out. All of my friend group loved these bars. Back in the day, a phone call on a landline was the means of communication, there was no group chat. So, we would get the call that Mrs. Tanner left peanut butter bars again, come over. No one was ever a no-show when peanut butter bars were on the invite. I was too young to have had the foresight to ask for the recipe.
Fast forward to more years than I want admit, I finally figured out this recipe. And, no wonder Mrs Tanner made these so frequently, they only take 10 minutes. It is worth noting sometimes she left off the top chocolate layer. I actually prefer them that way, but my family like the chocolate so that is how I make them now.
1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) salted butter, melted
1 cup (120g) graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups (180 g) icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
1 large cup (280g) peanut butter of your choice - I prefer creamy, the graham crackers provide enough texture
1 cup (180g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Grease or line an 8-inch or 9-inch (20 or 23 cm) square metal baking pan with. Set aside.
Mix all the ingredients together; peanut butter, melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and confectioners’ sugar together in a medium bowl. Then press firmly into your prepared baking pan to create an even base.
Melt the chocolate chips and spread over peanut butter base.
Chill in the fridge until set, at least 2-3 hours. Remove from the fridge 10 minutes prior to cutting the squares.
These bars are meant to be served chilled. They will be fine sitting on a dessert table for a few hours but the leftovers should be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
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