These peanut butter pretzel bars are the perfect combination of salty and sweet and are super easy to make. You’ll love that this no bake dessert only requires 5 ingredients to make and these bars are ready in just 30 minutes!
If you are a fan of peanut butter desserts and snacks like my no bake peanut butter fudge recipe, peanut butter chocolate Rice Krispie treats and peanut butter chocolate bliss balls, then you are going to love the recipe I am sharing with you today!
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- The taste! These bars are thick and chewy and the flavour combination of salty pretzels, creamy peanut butter, and sweet dark chocolate blend perfectly to give these bars the best taste.
- These no bake chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars are so quick and easy to make - they are ready in just 30 minutes!
- These homemade dessert bars are made with just 5 ingredients!
- Kid's love this no bake dessert.
- They store really well and freeze well so are great for meal prep. Just like my chocolate almond butter bars recipe.
- This peanut butter pretzel dessert recipe is refined sugar free and can easily be made vegan, dairy-free, paleo, and gluten-free!
If you love easy desserts you will love my pretzel and caramel chocolate bars, chocolate mug cake with almond flour, and vanilla protein mug cake.
Ingredients and substitutions:
- Pretzels - I went with gluten-free pretzels but you can use any type of pretzels that you like for making these pretzel bars.
- Natural, smooth peanut butter - The peanut butter helps bind the pretzels together and give these bars the best flavour. Be sure to use unsweetened, smooth peanut butter.
- Maple syrup - This is used to naturally sweeten this dessert while keeping it refined sugar free.
- Vanilla extract - to help enhance all the delicious flavours of these bars.
- Dark chocolate - you can use either dark chocolate bars or dark chocolate chips for making the chocolate layer on these bars.
Recipe variations and add ins:
- To make these bars gluten-free: use gluten-free pretzels.
- Make these pretzel bars vegan: use dairy-free chocolate.
- To add some extra crunch: sprinkle some crushed peanuts on top of the chocolate layer while it is still warm.
- 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, and use dairy free, soy free chocolate.
- To keep these bars refined sugar free use chocolate bars sweetened with coconut sugar - my favourite brands are Hu Kitchen and Zazubean.
- To make peanut free: use another nut or seed butter such as cashew butter, almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
- If you prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate you can use that instead.
- If you want a thicker chocolate topping increase the chocolate to 9 ounces or even 12 ounces.
How to make peanut butter pretzel bars:
- Step 1: Put the pretzels in a food processor and blend until you have pretzel pieces the size that you like.
- Step 2: Next put a medium pot on the stovetop on low heat and add the peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Heat for about a minute, stirring constantly until the ingredients are well combined and reach a smooth texture.
- Step 3: Turn the heat off and stir in the pretzel pieces.
- Step 4: Now line an 8" x 8" pan with parchment paper and transfer the peanut butter mixture into the pan. Spread the mixture into an even layer.
- Step 5: Next melt the chocolate in the microwave by heating it on high in 30 second intervals until it's melted. Then pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread it into an even layer.
- Step 6: Lastly, put the dessert in the freezer for 25-30 minutes, then remove and cut it into bars. Then enjoy!
Top tips:
- Be sure to use unsweetened or natural peanut butter (the bars would be way too sweet if you used sweetened peanut butter).
- Instead of putting the bars in the freezer to harden you could put them in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Use a hot knife to cut these bars into pieces more easily (I simply run the blade under hot water and then dry it off).
How to store:
Store these bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
These bars also freeze really well in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Peanut butter pretzel bars FAQs:
What if I'm allergic to peanut butter?
If you can't have peanut butter I would make these bars with cashew butter or sunflower seed butter instead.
What if I don’t have a food processor?
You could use a blender or break up the pretzels by hand. If I were to break the pretzels up by hand I would put them in a bag and use a rolling pin to break them up.
What if I don’t have maple syrup?
Although I recommend using maple syrup, you could use a variety of other sweeteners. You could try using honey, brown sugar syrup or agave nectar.
Is this recipe vegan?
Yes! As long as you use vegan chocolate this is a vegan dessert recipe.
Other desserts you will love:
Recipe
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
These chocolate 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!
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Servings: 16
Calories: 86kcal
Equipment
- 8 inch square baking dish
Ingredients
- 156 grams pretzels (or 5.5 ounces or approximately 5 cups)
- 1 jar natural smooth peanut butter (500 grams)
- 3/4 cup maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 ounces dark chocolate (either chocolate chips or bars)
Instructions
- Place the pretzels in your food processor and process until you have pretzel pieces the size that you like.
- Place a pot on the stovetop 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.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the pretzel pieces.
- 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.
- Melt the chocolate bars in a microwave safe dish by heating them on high in 30 second intervals, until melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate onto the peanut butter pretzel layer and spread it evenly until smooth. Place the pan in the freezer for 25-30 minutes until the chocolate is set. Remove the pan from the freezer and cut the bars into pieces.
Notes
- Use a hot knife to cut the bars into pieces more easily.
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the specific ingredients you use.
Nutrition
Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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