Listen, we’ve all done it. Sometime, around the beginning of March, we’re at Target. We have a cart full of crap we don’t really need but had to buy, two kids in the cart, latte in hand, and we pass by the Easter Candy aisle. “I don’t need any of that…” we tell ourselves. “Oh, what the hell, I’ll just breeze by really quickly and look, but I won’t touch.”
Our 4 year old cries out “Jelly Beans!” and before you know it, your cart is full of Butterfinger eggs, speckled peanut butter M&M’s, and the dreaded Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs.
I say dreaded because just one of those babies pretty much equals an entire work out. Just one of those luscious, delectable little eggs will ruin a whole day of hard work and calorie counting. But we buy them anyway. “I’ll just set them out in my little Easter candy dish” we lie to ourselves. “I won’t eat them…. They’re only for guests.”
I don’t need to tell you how the story ends, because we all know it ends with us eating the entire bag of Reese’s peanut butter eggs in a matter of days. And by “days,” I mean two days. Two days = two pounds. Kind of like dive Chinese food- it feels so good while you’re eating it, but the second you’re done, you have instant regret. But you’ll always have the memories of the way those peanut butter eggs tasted when they hit your tongue.
The reason I go into this in such detail is this: Take how good you think those eggs are, and times them by, I don’t know, a million. That’s how good these bars are. They taste EXACTLY like a Reese’s, but something about them being homemade just makes them better.
No bake, no mess, no fuss. I had these cooling in the fridge less than 10 minutes after I started making them. I only dirtied one bowl. (I mean, I washed it once in between, but still.) Don’t keep them in your house, unless you want to end up with another Easter Candy situation. No, take them in to work, or send them to work with your husband. You will go from over-eater to HERO.
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 cups finely ground graham cracker crumbs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup melted butter
1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the graham crackers, 1 cup of peanut butter, and powdered sugar.
Add the melted butter. Yum.
Mix well.
Spread evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and 4 tablespoons of peanut butter. I did this by microwaving for 30 seconds at a time, and then mixing, and then another 30 seconds, mixing, and then another 15 seconds, and it was perfectly smooth and melted. Alternatively, you could use a double broiler.
Spread the chocolate over top of the peanut butter mixture evenly.
Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, and then cut the bars evenly. You want to do your first cut at this point so that the chocolate top doesn’t break apart from the peanut butter part when you finally cut them evenly. 🙂
Store in the fridge in an airtight container and enjoy!
Rumbly in my Tumbly 
These look totally fantastic — especially because I am hopelessly addicted to those Reese’s Easter eggs! They’re just so delicious. I don’t think I could be left alone with these . . . but perhaps I’ll make them, you know, “for guests.” 🙂
Yes. [wink] for the guests. 🙂 Thanks for the comment and for visiting!
I haven’t tried yet but know they will be perfect. How do you think it would work as a lollipop or cake ball type on a stick? It looks like it would be solid enough? Thinking a two step process could happen, freeze the peanut butter ball for a bit, then dip in chocolate/pb and re fridge? Good idea or bad? Thinking the Church children would love them! Thank you.
Ohh that looks soo good!! So moreish!
I love Reese’s, can’t wait to give these a try!
Hope you like them!! Thanks for visiting!
I loved these. I’ve others before, but I thought that the consistency of the peanut butter part was firmer and and not too dry or too moist.
Thanks
Glad you liked them, Dan!
I just made these this morning. I’ve never come this close to getting a real “reese cup” taste in my baking adventures. This was so easy, sets up in 30 minutes just like you said, cut perfectly and popped out of the pan with ease. Thank you for such a quick and delicious recipe!
YUMMY! Need I say more?
Would something like Nestle chocolate chips work just as well as semi-sweet morsels? Is there a difference?
Amy chocolate chips would be fine. 🙂
Thanks for this recipe! I had a similar recipe for peanut butter balls that used graham cracker crumbs and lost it. Going to make these tonight!
how much total fat is there.
Great recipie thank you for sharing!
Looks yummy can’t wait to make!
Are you supposed to use natural or presweetened peanut butter?
I used Jiff. You could use either.
I made these at Christmas and they were the best things I have ever eaten! They were so good and easy to make.
Today is my official first day of retirement. I made them this morning and they are so easy and extremely good!!! Can’t keep this up while being retired or I will be as big as the side of the house!!
Do you think almond butter would work if you have someone with peanut allergies?
Crystal, I honestly have no idea, but I think that the almond butter would be worth a try!
Crystal, Did you try these with almond butter? I was thinking of trying them with Sunbutter. Just wondering how they turned out!
We live in England where Reeses goodies are expensive and hard to find. However, I have a jar of Reeses peanut butter so will be trying this recipe this afternoon. I’ll be earning brownie points with my husband as he’s a huge fan of Reeses. Thank you
Hi. I live in uk and have no idea what graham crackers are. Over here we use digestive biscuits for a cheesecake base. Can i use these as a substitute for the graham crackers?
Carla, yes, should be just fine.
These look awesome!!!! Do you know how many ounces of chocolate chips you used?
Andrea- 9 oz. 🙂 Enjoy!
I’ve been making this recipe for over 20 years – so good!!
I’ve made this many times and I substitute he graham crackers for vanilla wafer cookies, nila cookies, and I even thought pretzels (although I’m not a fan so I’ve never done it). You’re really only limited by your imagination.
Made these for Mother’s Day today-oh my gosh, they are SO like Reese’s pieces! I know everyone will love them-I had to try them of course, and they’re great-thanks for posting the recipe!
These bars are delicious but I found the graham crumbs if not ground almost to a powder to be too gritty.
Can these be frozen? If so how well do they hold up? I need to freeze for about 2 weeks, not much free time and I am making for an event.
Jennifer, I’ve not frozen these, so I can’t tell you how well they would freeze and thaw. If you try it, please come back and tell us how it worked out. They will stay nicely in the fridge for 3-4 days if you want to make them a bit in advance.
Better than Reeses, esp. since there is more PB and chocolate!
Maybe I’ll use some powdered WheyLow or erythritol to cut a few calories and ease my guilt. (esp. since some days the workout will barely cover a bean sprout, let alone something fun). Thanks for sharing!
PS to the commenter who suggested crushed pretzels: Thumbs up – big fan of sweet and salty! Maybe half pretzels and half grahams so it isn’t too salty with the peanut butter.
I have a box of chocolate graham crackers. Would it be okay to use those or would it change the taste too much?
Donna, I bet it would be good!
My boyfriends birthday is today and he doesn’t do cakes or cupcakes or even ice cream cake…his favorite thing is Reese’s! You saved me because this is the best Cake replacement I can find!! Thanx so much and of course they turned out delicious😉
So glad you liked these! Thanks for visiting.
Hi, they are delicious. But has anyone tried them with cookie butter instead of peanut butter yet?
You can make them gluten-free by using GF graham crackers.
Ive made these a handful of times, everyone always love them. They are even a request for the holidays. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you like these! Thanks for the comment!!
Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars Is My Favorite.
THese are amazing!! A family favorite, thanks for sharing!!
PS I love your German Shepherd, we have a 5 month old female 🙂
So glad you like them! Aren’t german shepherds majestic, magical creatures? 😊
How long do these last in the fridge?!
These will last about 5ish days if kept in an airtight container.
Made these last weekend!! Mine turned out just like the photo!! Not crumbly at all!! And I cut them shortly after they chilled in the fridge and were perfect! Easy fun and yummy!!! Thanks!!!
how many servings does this serve?
It depends how large you cut the bars. I usually get about 25.
Could you use block margarine instead of butter or Does that change it?
These are my all time favorite cookie. I can’t make them very often because I can eat half a pan, or more. I do add a little vanilla to the peanut butter filling. Makes something great even better, if that’s possible.