If you’re a fan of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you’ll love these no-bake bars that capture the same irresistible combination of sweet and salty, smooth and crunchy, in a more substantial and shareable form. These bars are easy to make with simple ingredients and require no oven, which makes them a perfect dessert or snack for any occasion or season. In this blog post, we’ll explore the origins, variations, and tips for making Reese’s Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars, and also discuss some nutritional and ethical considerations for consuming peanut butter and chocolate.
Origins and Variations of Reese’s Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have been around since 1928, when H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman, started selling them from his basement in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The cups became so popular that Reese’s company was eventually acquired by Hershey’s, and the brand expanded to other products such as Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Sticks, and Reese’s Minis. However, the basic formula of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups has remained the same: a milk chocolate coating on the outside, and a peanut butter filling on the inside.
Reese’s Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars, also known as Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars, are a variation of the classic cups that omit the chocolate coating and combine the peanut butter filling with other ingredients to form a dense and rich bar. The recipe typically involves melting butter, mixing it with graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla extract, and then pressing the mixture into a pan. Some recipes also call for adding chopped peanuts, pretzels, or chocolate chips to the filling, or sprinkling them on top of the bars. The bars are then chilled in the refrigerator or freezer until firm, and can be cut into squares or rectangles.
HOW TO MAKE REESES PEANUT BUTTER
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Chilling time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 12-16 bars
Ingredients:
1 cup (227 g) melted butter
2 cups (200 g) graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup (50 g) brown sugar
1 3/4 cups (210 g) powdered sugar
1 cup (250 g) peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (11 oz or 310 g) bag milk chocolate chips
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.
Press the peanut butter mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) pan.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth and melted.
Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread it evenly with a spatula.
Chill the bars in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until firm.
Cut the bars into desired sizes and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
