No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

We all need more dessert in our lives. I’m sure of it. So here’s our latest creation! Peanut butter + Chocolate + Pretzels. What could go wrong?!

<I say ‘our’ because my littlest one is very interested in helping me create in the kitchen these days. I’m not a clean baker – so you can imagine the disaster when there’s a 3 year old involved!>

No bake means these are pan to edible in t minus 10 minutes. Seven easy ingredients bring these together in a jiffy. The base is natural peanut butter. Lets use the drippy peanut butter that separates in the jar, just peanuts + oil +/- salt – not the thick, uniform peanut butter. It just works better! I used Aldi’s natural peanut butter but any natural PB will do. Then, stir in some maple syrup to sweeten it up a little. Plus, add some powdered peanut butter to thicken it up into a bar! Peanut butter powder is also delicious in smoothies and my Baked Oatmeal so if you don’t have any on hand, it’s worth buying!

You can store this on the counter, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer. I personally leave a few out and throw all my baked goods in the freezer to prolong the snacking fun. If you keep this up, all the sudden you have a bunch of different freezer snacks to choose from!

Think of these guys as lazy buckeyes + pretzels. They remind me a lot of these Vegan Buckeyes without all the work. #2020 whatever it takes?!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Servings 16 squares

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup pretzels smashed

Topping

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tsp avocado oil
• more pretzels for the top
• salt

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, powdered peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add crushed pretzels. Mix well again.
• Line an 8x8 pan with parchment or foil. Press peanut butter mixture evenly into the bottom on the pan.
• Put chocolate chips + oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until melted.
• Pour chocolate evenly over the peanut butter mixture. Spread evenly.
• Top with pretzels and a little salt, if you want.

Notes

Other Thoughts

• If you are adamantly against ordering peanut butter powder, I think that oat flour might work instead. I haven't tried it - but seems reasonable. No oat flour?! Throw some oats in the blender - and tada! You've got oat flour.
• If you let these bars sit on the counter for 30 minutes or so, the chocolate will harden on its own. But if you want to speed the process, put them in the refrigerator or freezer for a little.
• These might be pretty cute with crushed pretzels on top too....

 

How-to-Use

Athletes: A snack that has dessert status?! Alright! Add these in after meals to get that 'something sweet' or have one with a snack. Eating the things we love throughout training can help keep us mentally sane and happy!

Healthy Eating: These were partially inspired by my Vegan Buckeyes around here. Except - it can be a real pain to dip those peanut butter balls in chocolate so here's the answer. Delicious option! Use the 16 pretzel strategy to keep these portion controlled for snacking or desserts.

Kids: Mine had more fun helping and eating the props <aka pretzels and chocolate> than eating the actual final product. But, more for meeeeee....