Creamy peanut butter and melted chocolate layered on top of an Oreo crust. What could be better than that? These Oreo peanut butter bars are what dessert dreams are made of!
Dessert bars are so easy to throw together and perfect for making for a crowd. If you need a few more recipes to add to the lineup, here are some of my favorites: scotcharoos, oatmeal fudge bars, or Nanaimo bars!
Oreo and Peanut Butter Bars
These Oreo peanut butter bars are a match made in dessert heaven. They have a rich and buttery Oreo crust holding up a creamy peanut butter layer. Then comes the chocolate on top, the perfect sweet ending. My mouth is watering just thinking about these tasty dessert bars!
And the good news is, they’re a breeze to whip up. Simple to make, and even simpler to devour. You can easily make large sheets of these bad boys (hello, potlucks!) to feed a crowd! Or just your family, if your kids are as ravenous as mine. My family didn’t think peanut butter bars could get any better until we tried this amazing Oreo version. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredient List
These Oreo peanut butter bars have the most delicious ingredient list. Each one adds a little extra indulgence! You’re going to love the combination of Oreo, chocolate, and peanut butter. Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
Oreo Crust:
- Oreos: These cookies get pulverized into a fine, dark crumb, forming the base of the bars.
- Salted Butter: Melted butter binds the Oreo crumbs together. The touch of salt brings out the flavors.
Peanut Butter Filling:
- Salted Butter: Melted butter again! It helps bind the filling ingredients and adds richness.
- Graham Cracker Crumbs: These light, airy crumbs add texture and also a subtle sweetness to the creamy peanut butter layer.
- Powdered Sugar: So the filling for the Oreo peanut butter bars is smooth and sweet.
- Peanut Butter: The star of the show! I used creamy peanut butter, but crunchy will also work if you want more texture.
Chocolate Topping:
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet or milk chocolate, the choice is yours! You can also use dark chocolate chips if you wish to offset the sweetness. Melted chocolate chips create a smooth, decadent layer that complements the peanut butter perfectly.
- Peanut Butter: A little extra peanut butter adds depth to the chocolate layer, making it extra special.
How to Make Oreo Peanut Butter Bars
Oreo peanut butter bars are so easy to make, no baking required! This makes them perfect for enjoying year-round, when you don’t want to turn on your oven in the summer!
- Prepare Pan: Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang on both sides. Spray very lightly with pan spray and set aside.
- Oreo Mixture: Add the Oreos to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse again until the butter and Oreo crumbs are completely combined.
- Add to Pan, Chill: Pour the Oreo crumbs into the prepared pan and press them into an even layer with your fingers or the bottom of a flat measuring cup. Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes while you prepare the filling.
- Filling Mixture: In a large bowl combine melted butter, finely ground graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter. Spread in a 9×13 inch pan.
- Melt Chocolate, Layer: In the microwave or over the stove, melt the remaining ¼ cup of peanut butter with the chocolate chips until smooth. If melting In the microwave stir after every 30 seconds to make sure that it doesn’t burn. Spread on top of the peanut butter layer.
- Chill and Set: Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving so that they can set. Store leftover bars in the fridge.
Tips and Variations
A couple extra ways to make these peanut butter bars turn out just the way you like them!
- Different Types of Chocolate: Milk chocolate can be very sweet, so you may switch it out for semi-sweet. For an even more fancy version, melt two different kinds of chocolate and marble them on top with a toothpick. You can even swirl in white chocolate or melted butterscotch chips.
- Make Your Crust More Dense: The Oreo crust is a bit crumbly, especially when it room temperature. If you want it to be denser, you may add 1-1 ½ tablespoons of additional butter to the crust, but it may make it feel more oily.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover Oreo peanut butter bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
You can also freeze Oreo peanut butter bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Leave at room temperature for a couple hours to thaw.
More Peanut Butter Desserts to Sink Your Teeth Into
Oreo Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
Oreo crust
- 30 Oreos, not double stuffed
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 cup salted butter, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ¼ cups creamy peanut butter, divided
Chocolate Topping
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
Instructions
-
Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang on both sides. Spray very lightly with pan spray and set aside.
-
Add the Oreos to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse again until the butter and Oreo crumbs are completely combined.
-
Pour the Oreo crumbs into the prepared pan and press them into an even layer with your fingers or the bottom of a flat measuring cup. Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes while you prepare the filling.
-
In a large bowl combine melted butter, finely ground graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter. Spread in a 9×13 inch pan.
-
In the microwave or over the stove, melt the remaining ¼ cup of peanut butter with the chocolate chips until smooth. If melting In the microwave stir after every 30 seconds to make sure that it doesn't burn. Spread on top of the peanut butter layer.
-
Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving so that they can set. Store leftover bars in the fridge.
Nutrition
from The Recipe Critic
