no bake reese's peanut butter bars*

Hopefully everyone has had the Reese's Peanut Butter Bars you can make that are in the baking aisle at the grocery store?

 
These are my husband's FAVORITE! I never had them until last year, and they are pretty tasty. But I came across this recipe and wanted to try it and see if it tasted anything like the one in the box. I actually had peanut butter bars on our menus at the school, but we have been using the same recipe since the beginning of time. It's way good though, and I'm sure at one point it will get on the blog :). However, I decided to switch it up and try this new found recipe.

I think the graham cracker crumbs are what make these bars really taste like a Reese's (I forgot to mention that these REALLY do taste like a Reese's!!!). They are way easy to make and take almost no time!

No Bake Reese's Peanut Butter Bars
from Our Best Bites

1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
1 lb (3 1/2 C) powdered sugar
1 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
1 C (2 sticks) real butter, melted
1 12oz bag chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark, you pick!)
2 tsp shortening

In a large mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and peanut butter and butter and beat until combined.  Press into a parchment (or waxed paper or foil) lined 9x13 pan.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth (I actually did them in a metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water - microwaves freak me out).  Pour chocolate over peanut butter mixture and spread out evenly.

Place pan in the fridge just until chocolate is set and then cut into bars.

Tip:  If the bars chill until the chocolate is too hard to easily cut, use a sharp knife and score the cuts first, then gently cut through.  Can be stored in the fridge or at room temp.  They will stay firmer if stored in the fridge.

*Tip:  Instead of adding shortening to the chocolate topping, add a scoop of peanut butter.  That will prevent the top from getting solid and it will taste yummy!

I used the peanut butter with the chocolate for the topping and it was so yummy! Plus, I like the idea of having peanut butter in it rather than the shortening. I would actually put butter with the chocolate before I would put shortening. Anyway, these truly taste like a Reese's and are definitely very close to the Reese's bar mix you can buy at the store. They are so easy to make that they wouldn't take much more time, either.

-alyssa*