No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

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These No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars require less than 10 minutes of hands-on time. They are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy. And, because they are No-Bake, they are ideal for the summer or holidays when your oven is already full! 

5 Easy Peanut Butter Desserts to Make

What kind of peanut butter should I use in this recipe?

You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter. If you don’t have peanut butter chips to go in the chocolate topping, you can use a quarter cup of creamy peanut butter in its place.  

Is this No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel dessert gluten-free?

This pretzel dessert can be made using gluten-free pretzels, which would then make it gluten-free. 

Do I need special equipment for this recipe?

A food processor makes this a very quick recipe to make. But if you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the pretzels by placing them in a bag, sealing the bag, and then using your hands, a rolling pin, or a mallet to break them down. Then follow the above step, mixing everything by hand in a bowl. 

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Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

9×13 baking dish

How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars:

Ingredients:

2 ½ cup pretzels, crushed

1 cup of crunchy or smooth peanut butter

12 tablespoons of butter, melted

1 cup of brown sugar

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

¼ cup peanut butter chips

1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper to make this much easier to serve!  In a food processor, pulse 2 ½ cups of pretzels until they are broken into small pieces. Next, add 12 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1 cup of peanut butter. Pulse together until all of the ingredients are incorporated. 

Note: If you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the pretzels by placing them in a bag, sealing the bag, and then using your hands, a rolling pin, or a mallet to break them down. Then follow the above step, mixing everything by hand in a bowl. 

Pour the mixture into the 9×13 pan and spread evenly.  Combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 20-second increments until melted and smooth. 

Next, pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter and pretzel mixture. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly. Be careful not to overwork the melted chocolate on top. Because it is warm, it can cause the peanut butter and pretzel mixture to melt and meld with the melted chocolate. 

Let the pan cool in the refrigerator for two hours. When ready to serve, cut into portions using a warm knife. If you lined the dish with parchment paper, you can lift the whole slab out onto a cutting board to make cutting easier. If the chocolate on top is breaking in places other than where you are cutting it, let the dish sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge.  Let us know what you think of this No-Bake recipe!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

5 from 3 votes

The perfect sweet, salt, and crunchy dessert that takes only a few minutes to assemble!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

chill time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 24 bars

Course: Dessert

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 ½ cup pretzels crushed
• 12 tablespoons butter melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup crunchy or smooth peanut butter
• ¼ cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Method

 

1. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper to make this much easier to serve!
2. In a food processor, pulse 2 ½ cups of pretzels until they are broken into small pieces. Next, add 12 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1 cup of peanut butter. Pulse together until all of the ingredients are incorporated.
3. Spread the mixture into the 9x13 pan and spread evenly.
4. Combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 20-second increments until melted and smooth.
5. Next, pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter and pretzel mixture. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly. Be careful not to overwork the melted chocolate on top. Because it is warm, it can cause the peanut butter and pretzel mixture to melt and meld with the melted chocolate.
6. Let the pan cool in the refrigerator for two hours. When ready to serve, cut into portions using a warm knife. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge.

Notes

Note: If you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the pretzels by placing them in a bag, sealing the bag, and then using your hands, a rolling pin, or a mallet to break them down. Then follow the above step, mixing everything by hand in a bowl.

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