Easy dessert recipes are my jam! I have such a sweet tooth, and it’s great to throw a dessert together when I’m craving something. If you love the irresistible combination of peanut butter and chocolate, you’ll love these No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars. It takes those two flavors to the next level by adding the saltiness of pretzels.

This recipe is made in a big 9×13-inch baking dish. That’s such a common baking dish and it makes a large amount of dessert bars. If you cut them in normal squares, you’ll get 12 servings. However, if you cut them into smaller rectangles, you’ll end up with 24 dessert bars and that’s perfect for large gatherings. Think about making these for your next event! People love the chocolate peanut butter combination.

Looking for even more great dessert bar recipes? Here are some of my most popular dessert bar recipes on Savvy Mama Lifestyle:

• Nutty RumChata Dessert Bars
• Cherry Coconut Dessert Bars
• Pumpkin Streusel Dessert Bars

Tips For Making Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

You’ll use a 9×13-inch baking dish for this recipe and two mixing bowls. One of the mixing bowls needs to be microwave-safe. I prefer using a glass bowl in the microwave. Additionally, you’ll need aluminum foil. This will help you pull the dessert bars from the baking dish once they are set, so you can easily cut them with a knife.

When To Make These Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

I love making no-bake desserts during the warmer summer months. There’s something to be said about not heating the house with your oven. They’re also great to make if you’re a beginner and don’t have much baking experience.

Make these Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars are potlucks, BBQ’s, church gatherings or parties. They’re decadent with the chocolate peanut butter flavors but go well with so many main courses. The bars also easy to transport if you have to take them somewhere.

Why Do You Use Aluminum Foil?

There’s a very specific purpose to using the aluminum foil. It helps the dessert bars from sticking to the baking dish, makes for easy clean up, but (most importantly) it acts a lift. You can use the sides of the aluminum foil to pull the dessert bars out from the baking dish – like a handle! This makes the bars easier to cut into individual serving pieces.

How To Store Leftovers

Once the dessert bars have set, transfer them to an airtight food storage container. The bars don’t have to be refrigerated, but they need to stay away from direct heat if you don’t refrigerate. These bars will melt if they’re in direct heat. For the best freshness, enjoy the bars within 4-5 days of making them.

Can You Freeze These Dessert Bars?

Yes! These Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars freeze beautifully. Transfer the bars to freezer bags and store them in the back of the freezer where temperatures are more stable. Freeze the bars for up to six months. Let them thaw on the countertop to room temperature before enjoying again.

Recipe Substitutions

If you want to change the chocolate, you could try a dark chocolate or white chocolate melted on top of the crust. Do you like nuts? If so, add some chopped nuts along with the pretzels for topping. It gives the bars even more crunch and saltiness. I do not use sugar substitutes when making this recipe, but if you want to try – just follow package instructions for the brand of sugar substitute that you prefer.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Miniature Pretzels
• Unsalted Butter
• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions To Make Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Set aside 2 cups of pretzels for the topping. Line a 9×13 baking dish with aluminum foil, have the ends stick out so you can lift the bars out. Using a food processor add the remaining pretzels and pulse until you get fine crumbs.

In a large bowl add in the pretzel crumbs, melted butter, peanut butter and powdered sugar and mix together until everything is combined. Press the mixture into the dish and flatten it using your hand or a spoon.

In a microwave safe bowl add the semisweet chocolate chips and the tbsp of butter, melt in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.

Spread over the pretzel crust layer, making sure to spread it out with a spoon. Break up the pretzels you set aside and sprinkle them all over top of the chocolate and lightly press down so they stick better to the chocolate.

Cover and refrigerate for around 1 hour or until the chocolate has set. Remove the foil and cut into bars and enjoy!