Description
These salty, sweet, and crunchy no-bake bars are the perfect afternoon snack for busy school days. Made with pretzels, peanut butter, and chocolate, they are easy to make, lunchbox-friendly, and require zero oven time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 ounces (280g) pretzel sticks
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (250g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup crushed pretzel pieces (optional)
- Sea salt flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Crush pretzel sticks into small, uneven pieces (about the size of a pea) using a rolling pin or food processor.
- In a large bowl, combine crushed pretzels, melted butter, peanut butter, and sugar. Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand and holds together when pressed.
- Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan, aiming for a half-inch thick layer.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat (or in a microwave in 30-second intervals), melt chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of butter until smooth and glossy.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the pretzel base and spread evenly to the edges. Sprinkle with optional crushed pretzels and sea salt flakes.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until the chocolate is completely set.
- Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper sling and cut into 12-16 squares or rectangles.
Notes
Press the pretzel mixture firmly to ensure bars hold together. Use room temperature peanut butter for easier mixing. Ensure all equipment is dry when melting chocolate to prevent seizing. For nut-free versions, substitute sunflower seed butter. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pretzels.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: no-bake, peanut butter, pretzel bars, back-to-school snacks, lunchbox snacks, easy dessert, salty sweet snack, kid-friendly snacks