No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

In this house peanut butter rules, add chocolate and everyone is in dessert heaven.  We will pass on anything sugar related if it means we will get some form of peanut chocolate decadence.  These Peanut Butter Bars were no exception.  Every single person stopped to comment on what I was preparing as I prepared it, and my husband literally did a little dance in the kitchen as he took his first bite.  Oh, and did I mention they were NO BAKE?  So we have, peanut butter, chocolate and no need for the oven, this cook is one happy lady!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares
Recipe source: Modified every so slightly from What Megan's Making

printable recipe

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 36 squares)
1 cup chopped peanuts (optional, Megan's version called for them but we don't like them in our house)
1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
2 T  peanut butter

**you can use chunky peanut butter if you want, but we are strictly creamy people here so I didn't try it
**If you want a thicker chocolate topping, use the whole package of chocolate chips and up the peanut butter to 1/4 cup

Line square pan, 9x9x2 inches, with aluminum foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging on opposite sides.

Crush graham crackers.  I used my food processor, but a sealed plastic baggie works well too!

Mix powdered sugar, margarine, 1 cup of peanut butter and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in cracker crumbs and peanuts (mixture will be a little stiff). Press in pan

Heat chocolate chip and 1/4 cup peanut butter over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Spread over crumb mixture. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is set.

Remove from pan, using foil to lift. Fold back foil; cut peanut butter mixture into squares. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until firm. Cover and refrigerate any remaining squares.