Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars feature a delicious layered treat with a crunchy chocolate cookie crust, creamy peanut butter filling, and a rich chocolate pudding topping. These no-bake bars are perfect for dessert lovers craving a smooth combination of chocolate and peanut butter, chilled to perfection.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 16 oz chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz whipped topping, thawed
Chocolate Pudding Layer
- 1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 1/2 cups milk
Garnish (Optional)
- Additional whipped topping
- Chocolate curls
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Crust: In a medium bowl, mix the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with melted butter until the crumbs are fully coated.
- Form the Crust: Press the cookie mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Use the back of a spoon to compact it firmly. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
- Make the Peanut Butter Filling: In a separate bowl, beat together creamy peanut butter, softened cream cheese, and powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Add Whipped Topping: Gently fold the thawed whipped topping into the peanut butter mixture. Spread this creamy layer evenly over the chilled cookie crust.
- Prepare the Chocolate Pudding Layer: Whisk together instant chocolate pudding mix and milk in a bowl until the pudding thickens, approximately 2 minutes.
- Assemble the Bars: Pour the thickened chocolate pudding evenly over the peanut butter layer and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Chill the Bars: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow layers to set firmly for easy cutting.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, decorate with additional whipped topping and chocolate curls if desired.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened for easier mixing and a smoother texture.
- Use chilled ingredients where possible to keep the bars firm.
- Refrigeration time is essential for the bars to set; do not skip it.
- Chocolate curls can be substituted with shaved chocolate or sprinkles for garnish.
- For a crunchier texture, pulse some cookies in larger chunks instead of crushing all finely.
Keywords: chocolate peanut butter bars, no bake dessert, peanut butter cream cheese bars, chocolate pudding bars, easy layered bars
