1.) All you’ll need to make these decadent squares are 7 ingredients! (Plus maybe a little sprinkle of salt and water.)
2.) Start by blending your oats, dry roasted peanuts, and dates in a food processor.
3.) Next add in 2 tsp of melted coconut oil, and 1-2 table spoons of water. Blend until combined into a doughy texture.
4.) Line a standard sized bread pan (The kind you use for banana breads) with parchment paper. Then spread your crust mixture evenly in the pan, and press down very firmly with a spatula. Place your pan in the freezer while you do the next step.
5.) Next, you’ll make the peanut butter layer. Microwave your peanut butter and coconut oil for one minute in the microwave. Stir in 1 tbsp of maple syrup until smoothly combined.
5.) Spread your peanut butter mixture over the crust evenly, and put the pan back in the freezer.
6.) Now, you’ll make your chocolate layer. (Aka the best layer!) Put 1/3 cup of coconut oil in the microwave for about 1.5 minutes, until completely melted. Next mix in your cocoa powder and 2 tbsp maple syrup. Stir until completely combined. Then pour the mixture over you’re peanut butter and crust. Make sure the chocolate reaches all areas of the pan! Stick the pan back in the freezer to set.
7.) After waiting 15 minutes or so, your bars should be hardened and ready to eat. Remove them from the freezer and the pan. With a large knife, slice them into squares. (I usually go with 1.5″x1.5″ squares, but it’s up to you.)
8.) Serve em’ up and eat them, or store for later in the freezer (for a more crunchy texture) or the refrigerator (for a softer texture).
No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares (Prep time: 15 min, Total Time: 30 min, Makes: 12)
Holiday season is now in full swing, but for me, so is indoor track season! Though I’d love to be gorging myself with homemade cookies from friends and neighbors, it’s probably not the smartest choice. Rich, sweet, chocolatey, these bars check all those boxes, but also aren’t loaded with butter and refined sugar. On another positive note, they have lots of protein, and are pretty filling! These quick and easy bars make a great post workout snack, or after dinner dessert.
Ingredients
Crust:
2/3 cup oats
1/3 cup dry roasted and salted peanuts
4 pitted medjool dates
2 tsp melted coconut oil
1-2 tbsp water (1 for a more crumbly crust, 2 for a moist crust)
Peanut Butter Layer:
2/3 cup peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp maple syrup
Chocolate Layer:
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
Directions:
1: Blend the oats, peanuts, and dates in a food processor until they are finely combined. Then add in the water and melted coconut oil.
2: Line a bread pan with parchment paper, then pour in your crust mixture. Firmly press down the crust evenly over the pan. (It should kind of look like a granola bar.) Place the pan in the freezer.
3: Melt your peanut butter and 1 tbsp coconut oil for 1 minute in the microwave, then stir in the maple syrup. Pour this on top of the crust, and spread it evenly. Put the pan back in the freezer.
4: Melt your coconut oil for the chocolate layer in the microwave for 1.5 minutes. Add in the cocoa powder and maple syrup. Stir until very well combined, then pour over the peanut butter and crust. Sprinkle on the sea salt if you choose to add this. Make sure that the chocolate is covering every part of the bars. Place back in the freezer.
5: Let the bars set in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then remove them from the freezer and cut into squares. These can be stored in the freezer for a crunchy texture, or in the fridge for a softer texture!
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