Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BARS RECIPE

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BARS:

• The taste! These bars are the perfect combination of salty and sweet and the flavours of salty pretzels, peanut butter and sweet chocolate blend together perfectly. 
• All you need is 5 ingredients – Pretzels, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract and chocolate – to make this delicious treat!
• This recipe is super quick and easy to make! You’ll be devouring these little savory and sweet treats in just 30 minutes. 
• No baking required. I love a good no-bake dessert recipe, especially when it’s too warm outside to turn the oven on.
• You can enjoy these bars with coffee in the morning or to sooth your sweet tooth after dinner!
• Not only are these bars healthy and delicious but they can also be made vegan, paleo and gluten free!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THESE HEALTHY PRETZEL BARS:

• An 8″ x 8″ baking dish – This is the best size pan for these bars. If you want thinner bars use a bigger pan.
• Parchment paper – To protect the pan, make for an easy cleanup and prevent the pretzel bars from sticking.
• Food processor – To achieve the perfect crumbly pretzel texture. 
• Pretzels – I went with gluten free pretzels but if you don’t care about being gluten free you could use any pretzels you love.
• Natural, smooth peanut butter  – The smooth peanut butter helps bind the pretzels together.
• Maple syrup – I love using maple syrup as a sweetener in desserts. It adds a rich layer of flavour and helps give these bars a moist texture.
• Vanilla extract – Because a splash of vanilla enhances all of the other flavours in these pretzel bars.
• Chocolate bars – We all know chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven. These pretzel bars wouldn’t be complete without a layer of luscious chocolate on top! 

HOW TO MAKE THESE DELICIOUS BARS:

• First, add the pretzels to the food processor and process until the pretzels reach the consistency you like. 
• Next put a small pot on the stove top and add the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Heat for a moment or two, stirring constantly until the ingredients are well combined and reach a smooth texture. 
• Turn the heat off and stir in the processed pretzels. 
• Line an 8″ x 8″ pan with parchment paper and pour the peanut butter mixture into the pan. Spread the mixture around in an even layer. 
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave, then pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread around evenly.
• Put the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes, then remove and cut into bars. 

VARIATIONS ON THESE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BARS:

• To make these bars paleo swap the peanut butter for another nut butter such as cashew butter or sunflower seed butter, use grain free pretzels (I used these Quinn grain free pretzels) and use dairy free, soy free chocolate bars such as these Zazubean ones or these Hu Kitchen ones
• To make these bars gluten free use gluten free pretzels
• Make these pretzel bars vegan be sure to use dairy free chocolate bars
• To keep these bars refined sugar free use chocolate bars sweetened with coconut sugar – my favourite brands are Hu Kitchen and Zazubean
• Instead of chocolate bars you could use chocolate chips to make the chocolate layer instead
• If you want a thicker chocolate layer use three chocolate bars instead of two
• To add an extra crunch sprinkle some crushed peanuts on top of the chocolate layer while it is still warm

TIPS FOR MAKING THESE PRETZEL BARS:

• Be sure to use unsweetened or natural peanut butter (they would be way to sweet if you used sweetened peanut butter)
• Use a hot knife to cut these bars into pieces more easily (I simply run the blade under hot water)
• Store these bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

OTHER TREATS YOU WILL LOVE:

• Lemon Bars with Cranberry
• Apple Pie Bars
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
• Nut Butter and Chocolate Crunch Bars
• Turtle Cookies Bars
• Berry Ice Cream Bars

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4.5 from 4 votes

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Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

These peanut butter pretzel bars are such a delicious treat that is so easy to make. The perfect combination of both sweet and salty you are going to love this dessert!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate pretzel bars, paleo dessert, plant based

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 16

Calories 86 kcal

Ingredients

• 156 grams pretzels (or 5.5 ounces)
• 1 jar natural smooth peanut butter (500 grams)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 chocolate bars (6 ounces)

Instructions

1. Place the pretzels in your food processor and process until you have pretzel pieces the size that you like

   

2. Place a pot on the stove on low heat. Add the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently until the ingredients are combined and smooth

   

3. Turn off the heat and stir in the pretzel pieces

   

4. Line an 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper and transfer the peanut butter pretzel mixture to the pan. Spread it out evenly with a spoon or knife

   

5. Melt the chocolate bars in a microwave safe dish by heating them on high in 30 second intervals, until melted

   

6. Pour the melted chocolate onto the peanut butter pretzel layer and spread it evenly until smooth. Place the pan in the freezer for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate is set. Remove the pan from the freezer and cut the bars into pieces

   

Recipe Notes

1. Use a hot knife to cut the bars into pieces more easily 
2. Store these bars in the fridge

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 86 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 125mg5%

Potassium 62mg2%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 1IU0%

Calcium 15mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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