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!
