No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars To Wow At The Church Potluck

Peanut butter bars are the crispy, crunchy, decadent dessert you may have never had but will instantly want again and again after your first bite.

A layer of peanut butter-coated cornflakes sits on the bottom. It's topped with a bittersweet chocolate layer that has a hint of peanut butter, too. Finally, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt is sprinkled on top to balance the whole dessert with an irresistible salty-sweet note. In short, this is so good, you won't be allowed at your next potluck or party without these in hand.

What You'll Love About Peanut Butter Bars

In my family, the menu for get-togethers is fairly consistent. We don't stray far from the standards, especially at holidays. That is, until one year, my cousin's new wife showed up with a tray of Peanut Butter Bars.

These salty-sweet bars are what dreams are made of for the (many, many) people who love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. (That's me!) And for my new cousin, they were especially great for the family gathering because they're no-bake, easy to make, and won't be messed up by the bumpy roads between your house and your potluck or family dinner.

Now, whenever we have a family dinner, we know what we want: Bev's Peanut Butter Bars.

This recipe is nearly identical to her recipe, but made even easier. Some similar recipes (hers included) also use graham crackers in the crust. We made it easier (and I'd argue better) with just cornflakes.

If you ever ate Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies as a child, you're going to instantly recognize this bar's flavors and textures—and you're going to want more and more of it.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Bars

The good news for your sweet tooth—or for those parties where you need to bring food but certainly don't have time to bake—is that this is a no-bake recipe, and the ingredients are probably in your fridge and pantry right now. No, really! Go check!

To make these Peanut Butter Bars, you'll need:

• creamy peanut butter
• cornflake cereal
• powdered sugar
• bittersweet chocolate chips
• butter
• flaky sea salt

How To Make Peanut Butter Bars

The full recipe is below, but here's a brief outline.

1. Make the cornflake crust: Combine 1 cup of the peanut butter, melted butter, powdering sugar, and cereal. Press this into an 8-inch pan that's lined with parchment paper. (Using parchment paper instead of cooking spray makes it easier to get the squares out of the pan when ready to serve.)
2. Make the chocolate topping: Warm the chocolate and peanut butter together, and stir to combine. Spread evenly over the cornflake crust.
3. Sprinkle with salt: Grab your favorite flaky sea salt, and give the top a good sprinkle. The burst of salt against this rich bar will help balance the whole dessert.
4. Chill: Put the bars in the fridge for a few hours (or overnight). When you're ready to serve, bring the pan out of the fridge, and let it warm slightly at room temperature. Use a warm knife to cut the bars into 4 rows, and then 4 rows again for a total of 16 squares.

More Bars Recipes To Love:

Looking for a dessert to feed a crowd? Consider these favorite bars recipes:

• Carrot Cake Bars
• Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
• Cake Mix Brownies
• Pumpkin Bars
• Pecan Pie Bars

Editorial contributions by Kimberly Holland.