No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

I have a super easy no bake recipe for you today that will help you beat the heat and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time! You only need five simple ingredients, a few minutes and a microwave to make this yummy dessert.  The bars do need to chill in the fridge for a couple of hours so you will have to plan ahead a little bit, but the wait is well worth it.  You most likely have everything you need to make these already in your pantry.  If you find yourself without any powdered sugar (like me), a quick way to save yourself a trip to the store is to just grind the sugar in the food processor until it is fine and powdery.  It will take a few minutes but it comes out just like powdered sugar you would buy.  This whole recipe only takes about 10 minutes to put together and that's including grinding your own sugar and having tiny person jumping up and down all around you asking to be picked up the entire time. So on average I will say only five minutes of prep time :).  After a little chill to set up, these bars are a delicious treat, with really great texture from the crushed graham crackers and the perfect flavor combo of peanut butter and chocolate!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 1 sleeve)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp peanut butter, divided
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup white chocolate, optional

Place your graham cracker cookies in a large plastic zip top bag and crush with a rolling pin or kitchen mallet until you have fine crumbs.  Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the powdered sugar, melted butter and 3/4 cup of the peanut butter.  You can use creamy or crunchy PB, but I would not recommend a natural PB that needs to be stirred, for this recipe.  Mix these ingredients until well combined and then press into an even layer in a 8x8 or 9x9 pan lined with aluminum foil.  Place the remaining 2 tbsp of PB and the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring each time, until melted and smooth.  Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread out evenly with a spatula or spoon.  Optional, melt the white chocolate in the same fashion and transfer to a small plastic zip top bag.  Cut the corner off the bag and pipe straight lines on top of the chocolate.  Immediately run a toothpick through the lines, back and forth to create the zig zag pattern.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.  Let set at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting the bars.

Enjoy!

*Note* If you don't have or use a microwave, just melt the chocolates in a small saucepan over medium low heat, stirring frequently.