Buckeye Bars

Buckeye bars are an easy, no bake peanut butter bars recipe. Made with graham crackers; giving them a little crunch and topped with melted chocolate. Dare I say they taste even better than Reeses peanut butter cups and are so much EASIER than buckeye balls!

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These buckeye bars are a peanut butter and chocolate lover's dream. The bars are similar in flavor to that oh-so-familiar candy bar and are incredibly quick and simple to make. They are creamy and fudgy and might possibly be the easiest candy bar copycat you can make at home.

Why are they called buckeye bars? Buckeye balls are a peanut butter fudge candy ball dipped in chocolate to look like the nut from Ohio's state tree, the buckeye tree. But we are skipping the time consuming process of rolling them in balls and dipping them in chocolate by making them into simple bars. Same great flavor, but easy for our busy lives!

For more peanut butter recipes try my peanut butter thumbprint cookies, peanut butter muffins, peanut butter white chocolate blondies or peanut butter cookies.

This post was originally posted in April of 2019 and has been updated with new photos and helpful information. The recipe has been slightly altered from the original.

why you will love these peanut butter bars

• Easy and quick ~ the prep time is about 10 minutes, so much easier than making buckeye balls!
• Simple ingredients ~ only 5 ingredients needed for these buckeye bars.
• No bake ~ no need to turn on an oven for this super simple no bake dessert.
• One of the top dessert flavor combos; hello peanut butter and chocolate!
• They are great additions to your holiday candy making and will disappear in a flash whenever you make them.

ingredients needed

Please scroll to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and baking directions.

• Butter ~ I always use unsalted butter, but salted would work just fine in this recipe.
• Peanut butter ~ creamy peanut butter is best for the texture and I recommend using a commercial brand like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butter will change the texture of the buckeye bars; see the recipe card for how you can partially substitute natural peanut butter.
• Confectioners' sugar ~ also called powdered sugar, works to give structure and sweetness to the bars. If you want a hint of brown sugar flavor, you can replace a ½ cup of the confectioners' sugar with brown sugar.
• Graham crackers ~ add structure and an addictive little crunch to the candy bars. If you don't have graham crackers, try digestive biscuits or a dry and crisp cookie like biscoff or shortbread.
• Chocolate ~ the recipe calls for milk chocolate, but if you prefer a less sweet bar, use semisweet. You can use a chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips.

how to make buckeye bars

Start by preparing a 9x13 baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, leaving overhang so you can easily pull the bars out of the pan.

Then mix peanut butter and melted butter with a wooden spoon or spatula until well blended.

Crush your graham crackers into crumbs {I use my food processor, but you can also crush them in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin}. Combine the graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar. Then add to the peanut butter mixture. I find it works best to slowly add the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture.

Once well combined press the peanut butter mixture into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate and peanut butter together. Stir until well combined and pour over the peanut butter layer. I like using an offset spatula to smooth the peanut butter chocolate layer over the peanut butter layer.

Chill the bars for 20-30 minutes, then remove from the refrigerator and use a knife to cut through the chocolate layer into the desired size bars. Then return to the refrigerator to chill another 60-90 minutes. Cut the bars using the scored marks you made {this should keep the chocolate from cracking} and enjoy!

Remember to pin this recipe to Pinterest! Use the button on the recipe card or the share buttons on the side or bottom of this page.

tips for the best no bake peanut butter bars

• I recommend a creamy peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy for the best results.
• Be sure to line the baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil {leaving a little overhang} so you can easily remove the buckeye bars from the pan to score them and cut them.
• Fully combine the peanut butter and melted butter before adding the dry ingredients.
• Add in the graham cracker and confectioners' sugar mixture a little bit at a time for easier mixing.
• Press the peanut butter layer firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
• The finer you crush the graham crackers, the more fudge-like the peanut butter bars will be.

variations

For a crispy buckeye bar, add up to 2 cups of rice krispies to the peanut butter layer.

If you like a thicker chocolate layer, double the ingredients for that layer.

For a white chocolate version, substitute white chocolate for the chocolate.

frequently asked questions

can I use natural peanut butter?

I recommend using a brand of peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy as natural peanut butter can separate making the bars oily. I have successfully made this recipe using half Jif and half natural peanut butter.

what can I use in place of graham crackers?

If graham crackers are not available try using digestive biscuits. A dry and crisp cookie such as biscoff or shortbread should also work.

why did my chocolate crack?

If you cut the chocolate layer after it has fully set, it can cause the chocolate layer to crack. The addition of peanut butter to the chocolate layer does help it to be a softer texture, but I still recommend scoring the chocolate layer after 20-30 minutes of chilling to keep the chocolate from cracking.

can I half the recipe?

Yes!! Just cut the ingredients in half and use an 8x8 baking pan instead.

how to store

Buckeye bars can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

They can also be frozen for up to 3 months, allow to thaw before serving.

Remember to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram if you make these Buckeye Bars. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

more no bake desserts to enjoy

• Cookie Butter Bars
• Sprinkle Rice Krispie Treats
• No Bake Mascarpone Cheesecake
• Mini Peanut Butter Espresso Cheesecakes

If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!

Buckeye Bars

recipe created and tested by:

Tasia Harper

Buckeye bars are an easy, no bake peanut butter bars recipe. Made with graham crackers; giving them a little crunch and topped with melted chocolate. Dare I say they taste even better than Reeses peanut butter cups and are so much EASIER than buckeye balls!

I highly recommend using weight (metric) measurements when available for more accuracy and the best results.

Print Recipe rate this recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Chill time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Course Bars and Brownies

Cuisine American

Servings 24 bars

Calories 285 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Please note

When using 2x or 3x ingredients, the grams DO NOT adjust, you will have to manually do that.

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Peanut Butter Layer

• ▢ 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter* 384g
• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter melted (113g)
• ▢ 1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs 1 sleeve – 9 crackers 140-145g
• ▢ 3 cups confectioners' sugar 360g

Chocolate Layer***

• ▢ 12 ounces milk chocolate chips** just shy of 2 cups/340g
• ▢ 2 tablespoons peanut butter 32g

Instructions

 

• Prepare a 9x13 baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, leaving overhang so you can easily pull the bars out of the pan.
• Mix peanut butter (1 ½ cups/384g) and melted butter (½ cup/113g) with a wooden spoon or spatula until well blended.
• Crush your graham crackers (1 sleeve/9 crackers/140-145g) into crumbs (I use my food processor, but you can also crush them in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin).
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar (3 cups/360g). Then add to the peanut butter mixture. I find it works best to slowly add the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture.
• Once well combined firmly press the peanut butter mixture into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate (12 ounces/340g) and peanut butter (2 tablespoons/32g) together. Stir until well combined and pour over the peanut butter layer. I like using an offset spatula to smooth the chocolate layer on.
• Chill the bars for 20-30 minutes, then remove from the refrigerator and use a knife to cut through the chocolate layer into the desired size bars. Then return to the refrigerator to chill another 60-90 minutes. Cut the bars using the scored marks you made (this should keep the chocolate from cracking) and enjoy!

Notes

The original version of this recipe used 1 tablespoon of butter in the chocolate layer. I switched to 2 tablespoons peanut butter to make the layer softer and creamier.

*I recommend using a brand of peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy as natural peanut butter can separate making the bars oily. I have successfully made this recipe using half Jif and half natural peanut butter.

**Chocolate chips or chocolate bars can be used. Feel free to use semisweet or dark chocolate if that is more your style.

If graham crackers are not available try using digestive biscuits or a crunchy cookie such as biscoff or shortbread.

Buckeye bars can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months, allow to thaw before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 barCalories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 115mgFiber: 2gSugar: 23g

The nutrition information is based on third-party calculations, is an estimate only and may not be entirely accurate. Actual nutritional values will vary based on brands used and portion sizes.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Leave a comment and rating below! I love hearing from you!

Recipe shared with Full Plate Thursday, Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck