Healthy No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars Recipe

by Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN | Sep 18, 2023 | Desserts, Recipes, Snack & Side Dishes | 0 comments

You will love these Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. They are crispy, chocolatey, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

You will love these Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. They are crispy, chocolatey, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and have only 8g of sugar per serving! It’s a no-bake dessert that is quick and easy to create.

This holiday season, I developed a lower-sugar alternative to a Christmas cookie. I wanted something with chocolate, crispy, and crunchy. After brainstorming and playtime in the kitchen, I discovered a recipe for these Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars.

I utilize almond flour and Rice Krispies cereal to help create a yummy peanut butter filling. Then, I top it all off with delicious melted dark chocolate.

three chocolate peanut butter crunch bars stacked with more bars in the background

 

Ingredients in Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

The Peanut Butter Crunch Layer

Peanut Butter: I use any peanut butter that has no added sugar, crunchy or creamy peanut butter works. I prefer crunchy peanut butter with a little added salt. 

Crispy Puffed Rice: Puffed rice cereal or crispy rice cereal must be toasted to create that lovely crispy crunchy peanut layer. I find the OG Rice Krispies work best. 

Almond Flour: Almond flour helps bind the ingredients together. Almond flour has a delicate taste and the flavor does not overpower the other ingredients.

Maple Syrup: A little goes a long way. The maple syrup adds hints of vanilla and caramel. Maple syrup also has a fruity sweetness.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract compliments the flavors of peanut butter, maple syrup, and chocolate.

 

Top down view of crunch bars with some bars flipped onto their sides to show crunchy rice cereal

 

Ingredients in Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

The Chocolate Layer

Dark Chocolate Chips: I use 70% dark chocolate or greater. Ghirardelli has a nice variety of dark chocolates like this 86% dark chocolate bar.

Peanut Butter: For even more peanuty flavor.

Coconut Oil: Option to skip the coconut oil and just use peanut butter to thin the chocolate however, I enjoy the subtle coconut flavor.

 

Crispy-Peanut-Butter-Bars-closeup showing the chocolate layer over top the bar

 

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

Make Peanut Butter Crunch Filling

  • Place all peanut butter bar ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.
  • Line a 9×9 inch baking pan or 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper. If you skip this step the bars will not pop out of the baking pan when cooled.
  • Press the peanut butter mixture into the baking or cake pan.

Melt Chocolate

  • Melt chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil over a double boiler. Once all of the chocolate is almost melted remove and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the ingredients are combined.
  • Pour chocolate mixture over Peanut butter bars. Spread it evenly with your chocolate mixing spoon.

*Option to melt the chocolate over a microwave instead of the double boiler method. Check out this article by Molly Allen “How to melt chocolate on the stovetop or microwave for smooth results every time” for further detailed instructions. 

Chill, Slice, and Serve 

  • Place the dessert in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Before the chocolate has almost set but not completely, add desired toppings (coconut flakes, sprinkles, etc.). If the chocolate is too runny, the toppings will sink into the chocolate.
  • Place the bars back in the fridge for another 30 minutes. Slice and serve once the chocolate is set.

 

Peanut Butter Crunch Bars Infographic showing the peanut butter bar section and melted chocolate.

 

Eating These Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars Recipe

Below are a few ways I love to enjoy these Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars.

Alone: I’ll eat these bars as a snack after a long hike or as a sweet treat. With 7 grams of protein (that’s more than a handful of almonds) and a relatively low amount of sugar for such a decadent dessert you can count on these bars to fill you with nutritional goodness.

On a dessert board: I like to pair these with other Christmas cookies around the holidays. I’ll put some orange slices and nuts on the board too.

A la mode: Try heating your bar in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, then top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an even more decadent dessert.

 

Heading saying Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. Imafe of crunch bars with a chocolate layer and toasted coconut topping.

 

Sharper Nutrition Fix: Peanuts

Origins: Likely first cultivated by the Incas, peanuts are native to South America. Traders, Spanish and Portuguese in origin, introduced peanuts to countries like China, India, and West Africa.

Developed in 1890, Peanut Butter was promoted as a health food at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair.

Where they grow: Peanuts are not true nuts. Peanuts are legumes. Peanuts require a long, warm growing season with ample water which limits growing to the warmer temperature regions. China, India, Nigeria, and the United States lead the world in peanut production. Georgia and Florida are the leading growers in the US.

Nutrition: High in fat, rich in protein, and fiber, peanuts are a nutritional powerhouse. Peanuts are a source of niacin, Vitamins E, B6, folate, and the minerals magnesium, manganese, and potassium with lower amounts of iron and calcium.

 

Peanuts spilling out of bowl

 

More Recipes

Better Than Quest Cookies and Cream Crunch Bars

Walnut Snowballs

Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Top down view of crunch bars with some bars flipped onto their sides to show crunchy rice cereal

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN
These no-bake, holiday decorated Crunchy Peanut Butter Bars and so good, you forget they have some pretty healthy ingredients. Moreover, this bar is 100% plant-based!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Resting time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings
Calories 232 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x9 baking pan
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 double boiler
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 stirring spoon
  • 1 set measuring cups and spoons
  • parchment paper

Ingredients
  

Peanut Butter Bars

  • 1.5 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey (this sub is not plant-based)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cup puffed rice

Chocolate Topping

  • 3.5 oz dark chocolate see recipe notes
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tsp coconut oil

Other Toppings

  • 2 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes optional

Instructions
 

For the Peanut Butter Layer

  • Place all peanut butter bar ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.
  • Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. If you skip this step the bars will not pop out of the baking pan when cooled.
  • Press the peanut butter mixture into a 9x9-inch baking pan.

Chocolate Layer

  • Melt chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil over a double boiler. Once all of the chocolate is almost melted remove and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the ingredients incorporated.
  • Pour chocolate mixture over Peanut butter bars. Spread it evenly with your chocolate mixing spoon.

Chill & Serve

  • Place the dessert in the refrigerator for 30min to 1 hour. Before the chocolate has almost set but not completely, add desired toppings (coconut flakes, sprinkles). If the chocolate is too runny, the toppings will sink into the chocolate.
  • Place bars back in the fridge for another 30min. Serve once the chocolate is set.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 7gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 109mgPotassium: 194mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chocolate
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sarah Harper in her kitchen with a cutting board, broccoli, carrots, and a fruit bowl.
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Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

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