Gluten-Free No-Bake Peanut Butter Nutella Bars
Rich layered bars combining creamy peanut butter and chocolate-hazelnut spread over a graham cracker crust, topped with melted chocolate. Perfect for potlucks, school treats, or when you need a crowd-pleasing dessert without turning on the oven. The combination of textures from crunchy graham crackers to smooth chocolate creates an irresistible treat that sets quickly in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
- ¼ cup Nutella
- ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, choppeddark chocolate chips1:1vegan option
more intense chocolate flavor
- ¼ cup peanut butter chips
- 1 tablespoon Nutella
Instructions
- 1
Butter an 8x8-inch square pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhangs on two sides
- 2
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat
- 3
Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar until smooth
- 4
Stir in peanut butter, Nutella, and graham cracker crumbs until completely combined
- 5
Spread mixture into prepared pan and smooth the top
- 6
In the same saucepan, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and Nutella until almost melted
- 7
Remove from heat and stir until completely smooth
- 8
Pour chocolate mixture over peanut butter layer and smooth evenly
- 9
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until set
- 10
Remove using parchment overhangs and cut into 16 bars
Tips
Line the pan with parchment overhangs to easily remove bars without breaking
Melt chocolate mixture slowly and remove from heat while pieces remain to prevent overheating
Use a pizza cutter for clean, even cuts through the set bars
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 1 week
Make up to 3 days ahead, store covered in refrigerator
Serve chilled, let sit 5 minutes at room temperature before cutting
Common Mistakes
Use parchment overhangs to avoid breaking bars when removing
Remove chocolate from heat while pieces remain to prevent seizing
Substitutions
Vegan Options
Gluten-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
FAQ
Can I freeze these bars?
Yes, wrap individually in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator before serving.
What if I don't have peanut butter chips?
You can omit them or substitute with more chocolate chips. The bars will still taste great.
How long do these need to set?
At least 1 hour in the refrigerator, but 2-3 hours ensures clean cuts when slicing.