The Recipe Rebel / Desserts
written by Ashley Fehr
4 from 7 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 36 small bars
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Last updated on June 4, 2020
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One ingredient makes these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars BETTER than all the rest! They taste just like Reese’s and are highly addictive!
I know. You think I shouldn’t be making such big claims.
But here’s the thing: these are better.
There’s nothing wrong with the classic No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars recipe that everyone has, with graham cracker crumbs, but with one simple switch you can have even better Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars: crushed vanilla wafer cookies.
This is one recipe that I made long, long ago, and made often, and then kind of forgot about it as I started experimenting more and stopped making recipes more than once or twice. But there are just certain recipes you need in your repertoire.
The best Chocolate Chip Cookies.
The best Double Chocolate Cookies.
The best Classic Banana Bread.
You shouldn’t have to live your life without them! And to add to my collection of perfect, classic recipes: Better No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars! Make ’em. 🙂
See how easy they are to make!
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Pin this recipe to your favorite boardBetter No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
written by Ashley Fehr
4 from 7 votes
One ingredient makes these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars BETTER than all the rest! They taste just like Reese’s and are highly addictive!
Save
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Servings 36 small bars
Calories 205cal
Ingredients
- 25 vanilla wafer cookies about 275g
- 2 cups powdered icing sugar
- 1 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter I use light
- 1 cup melted butter
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup milk or cream
Instructions
In a food processor, add wafer cookies and process until ground. Add powdered sugar, peanut butter, and melted butter and process until smooth.
Spread into a 9×13″ pan lined with tin foil. Set in the freezer to firm up while you melt the chocolate.
Combine chocolate chips and milk and microwave on high in 30-45 second intervals, stirring each time, just until the chocolate is melted (don’t overdue it!). I did 45 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds and it was perfect.
Spread evenly over bars and refrigerate until firm (you can put them in the freezer if you’re in a hurry!). Slice into bars and serve. I recommend storing in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
*If you can’t find the vanilla wafer cookies (too bad!), you can substitute the same weight of say a Nilla wafer cookie or graham cracker crumbs if necessary.
*This is an easy recipe to halve if a 9×13″ pan is too large or too much temptation!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 205cal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.8mg
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Meet Ashley
My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Eric says
Question. How many Nilla wafers would you suggest? Same weight?
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
You will need the same weight but the wafer cookies also have frosting in them, so you may need to add a little more peanut butter to hold them together
Reply
Lori says
I am wondering if I use less powdered sugar do you think they’ll still work?
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t think they would set up as you’d need something more to act as a filler, but you could probably increase the cookies and decrease the sugar.
Reply
Sam says
I have to admit, I don’t understand lining the bottom of the pan with foil.
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
So that they come out of the pan easily, and it cuts down on mess. It’s not necessary.
Reply
Marsha says
May I say these were THE BEST peanut butter bars I have ever made! I made them as a Christmas treat for my brother who loves all things peanut butter. The vanilla sugar wafers adds an extra dimension of taste that other recipes don’t have. I even caught my husband who doesn’t even like sweets sneaking a few. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
Right?!? I’m so glad you agree! I think they make these the very best! Thanks for letting me know how you liked them 🙂
Reply
Betsy says
What do you mean by vanilla wafer cookies if Nilla Wafers are a substitute? Do you mean the long thin wafers with the creamy filling?
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, I mean the long thing ones with the frosting in them! But you can definitely substitute Nilla wafers if that’s what you have available.
Reply
Deena Caunt says
Could you please tell me the name of the cookie. I am English and I need to look for a picture to see what we have for a sub.
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t know that they have another name — you could substitute any hard vanilla frosting filled cookie, like a Golden Oreo or similar, or even graham crackers or vanilla cookies will do.
Lulu M says
By vanilla wafer cookie are you referring to sugar wafers? Bland tasting waffle-like rectangular exterior with sweet vanilla filling?
Ashley Fehr says
Those are the ones! They’re not much on their own but they make these really great!
Vanilla wafer cookies are GENIUS, Ashley!! Leave it up to you to make the no bake chocolate peanut butter bars BETTER! These chocolaty, peanut buttery beauties look dangerously delicious! NEED!!! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend… and thanks for making me drool on my keyboard. 😉
Reply
Medha says
These look awesome! I can never control myself around PB bars Love the idea to use wafers 🙂
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I’m Reese’s pb cups biggest fan!! And I mean, bigger is better right? So these bars are SO up my alley! I want to just take a huge bite out of all that peanut butter/choc perfection!!
Reply
Peanut butter bars are my favorite! I’ve been making a similar version for years, but I love that you used vanilla wafers! And no-bake treats are much needed because it’s been SO hot here! And, of course, chocolate and pb make everything better! Yum!
Reply
