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Easy Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (V, GF): a 4 ingredient recipe for healthy gluten free peanut butter bars! The best dairy free dessert recipe: yummy no bake peanut butter bars! Quick ‘n simple vegan dessert, Gluten Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan.
Have you tried making my 4 ingredient Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars? They’ve been one of my most popular recipes since I shared them a few years ago—along with the paleo version: No Bake Paleo Chocolate Almond Butter Bars.
Today, I thought it’d be high time to share some new photos, a bit of a recipe revamp and answer your common questions about my easy vegan chocolate peanut butter bars. Are you ready? Let’s do it!
Easy Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (Gluten Free)
You might be asking, what the heck are no bake chocolate peanut butter bars? Some folks know them as Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars, Homemade Reese’s No Bake Peanut Butter Bars, or even No Bake Cafeteria Peanut Butter Bars.
The classic version of peanut butter bars include 2 layers: one layer that’s firm & sweet featuring peanut butter, and the second is the chocolate topping. How is my recipe for no bake chocolate peanut butter bars any different?
Most no bake peanut butter bars are made with a combination of butter, confectioners sugar and graham crackers. Years ago, when I really, really craved/needed to make a healthy, vegan + gluten free peanut butter bar, I realized that I had to leave those ingredients out.
So here’s what I came up with… 😉
Quick & Simple Vegan Peanut Butter Bars—in 4 ingredients!
My very favorite dairy free peanut butter bars can be made with just 4 simple & healthy ingredients. They’re so easy to make, gluten free, vegan and delish—basically my favorite easy vegan dessert recipe!
- Ingredient 1: unsalted, natural creamy peanut butter
- Ingredient 2: (dairy-free) vegan chocolate chips
- Ingredient 3: pure maple syrup
- Ingredient 4: coconut flour – which makes it grain-free!
I was a little too proud of myself for figuring out that my heretofore enemy, ahem, otherwise known as the indomitable coconut flour, could be used as a healthy, grain-free thickener for the peanut butter layer in these healthy peanut butter bars. Combined with maple syrup, well, you’ve got the tastiest vegan peanut butter bars. Like, ever.
How to Make No Bake Healthy Peanut Butter Bars
- Step 1: Combine peanut butter, maple syrup and coconut flour in a bowl. Whisk & fold until deliciously thickened.
- Step 2: Pour this peanut butter mixture into a prepared pan & smooth into an even layer.
- Step 3: Melt together vegan chocolate chips & remaining peanut butter. Stir until silky smooth.
- Step 4: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the bars.
- Step 5: Chill until completely firm.
- Step 6: Slice & enjoy the best healthy peanut butter bars!
How Do I Make these Easy Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Paleo?
Easy, use my No Bake Paleo Chocolate Almond Butter Bars recipe! It’s also dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and made from healthy ingredients.
>>RELATED: Ultimate Healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Bars – 5 Ingredients! // Vegan Peanut Butter Cups // 4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (Vegan)
Simple & Easy Gluten Free Dessert: Healthy Vegan Peanut Butter Bars!
Isn’t that basically the best easy vegan chocolate peanut butter bars recipe. Evah?!? It’s so simple that I constantly get comments & emails being like, “Uhhh… I really didn’t think these gluten free peanut butter bars would work. But it did. And it’s AWESOME!!” and… “also, can you move next door so I can help you ‘taste-test’?” Tee-hee!!
The best part is that these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars are made without powdered sugar, butter or graham crackers. How cool is that?
Freezing & Storing these Easy Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Bars
These gluten free peanut butter bars are easier to eat than they are to store. But they’re also easy to store. Lol. On the 1st day, the chocolate topping still needs to set, so you’re better off storing your healthy peanut butter bars in the fridge. After Day 1, go ahead and store your PB bars at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
Great news: you can keep your healthy peanut butter bars for up to 2 weeks!
Freezing: store your dairy free peanut butter bars in a freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months. Allow to thaw for 10 minutes before storing or go for it (if you like it super duper firm & have strong teeth. Lol.)
Tools for Making Easy Healthy Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Bars & Desserts!
Here are the tools that I used to make this healthy no bake peanut butter bars recipe:
- Coconut Flour: one of my favorite ingredients to use in gluten free vegan desserts!
- 8-inch Baking Pan: just the perfect pan for baking & no-baking vegan treats!
- My Favorite Knife: folks are always asking me about the super clean cuts that I make on my no bake bars. Here’s my secret weapon. 😉
- Vegan Chocolate Chips: no vegan kitchen is complete without some amazing vegan chocolate!
Are you ready to make ALL the vegan chocolate peanut butter bars?!? Wait ‘til you tell your loved ones that they’re gluten-free, dairy-free and made with healthy ingredients! 😉 I can’t wait to hear what you think of one of my favorite easy dairy free desserts recipes! Try this recipe & let me know what you think! I can’t wait. ‘Til then…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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Did you make this healthy peanut butter bars recipe? Take a pic & share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker and tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it!
Quick & Easy Vegan Gluten Free Desserts Recipes (Healthy, Dairy-Free)
If you’re looking for more quick ‘n simple vegan desserts, try my favorites below! They’re all gluten free & dairy-free!!
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
- Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten Free)
- Healthy Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
- Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Energy Bites Recipe
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
- 2 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Vegan Fudge Recipe
- 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Energy Bars
- Soft Baked Chocolate Vegan Donuts Recipe (Gluten Free) – w/ Vegan Chocolate Ganache Glaze!
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Bites
4 Ingredient Easy Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (Gluten Free, Healthy, Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Layer
- 1 cup natural unsalted creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut flour
Chocolate Topping
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Clear some space in the freezer for this pan—you’ll need it later. Set aside.
- Make the Peanut Butter Layer: In a medium bowl, add Peanut Butter Layer ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter, ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and ½ cup coconut flour. Using a rubber spatula, stir and fold until well-mixed and thickened, with no visible flour patches remaining.
- Transfer peanut butter mixture into the prepared baking pan. Using the rubber spatula, smooth into an even layer. Set aside.
- Make the Chocolate Topping Use the double boiler method or the following. Add Chocolate Topping ingredients to a medium, microwave-safe bowl: 1 cup chocolate chips and ½ cup peanut butter. Heat in 20-second increments until chocolate is softened and melty. Stir in between heating increments, until smooth.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter filling. Using a clean rubber spatula, smooth into an even layer. Tap the pan a few times to help even out the chocolate.
- Transfer pan to freezer. Freeze for 45-60 minutes, or until firm. Remove from freezer and slice into 16 bars. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
Notes
- Note: On the first day, these bars are best stored in the refrigerator, as the chocolate topping hasn’t fully set yet. Serve and enjoy within 1 hour.
- Where to Buy Ingredients: Organic Peanut Butter | Coconut Flour | Pure Maple Syrup | Vegan Chocolate Chips
- Storage Instructions: After the first day, you may store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature (1-2 weeks) or in the refrigerator (1-2 weeks). Starting week 2, the bars are a bit drier (like Reese’s PB cup filling), but still delicious.
- Freezing Instructions: these bars freeze well. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 10 minutes before enjoying.
- Recommended Tools: Unbleached Parchment Paper | Baking Pan (8-inch) | 4 Event Timer | My Favorite Knife
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Definitely I will prep these chocolate peanut butter bars on the weekend for my family. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Very good recip
Thanks Melody! Enjoy! 🙂
Love the recipe! Looks so simple! Will give it a try.
Can you please link the vegan chocolate chips that you use?
Would this recipe work with a different kind of flour in the pb base, or would coconut be the ideal option?
Hi Paige, coconut flour would be the ideal option. 🙂 But I know that a few readers have tried using other flours with success. I’d just caution that coconut flour is super absorbent, so any other flour would make the bars less firm. 😉 Good luck!
This recipe is amazing!
I decided to make something for a friend’s birthday but she’s very allergic to dairy, her sister is strictly vegan and her mum can’t have gluten. This recipe was perfect! Super easy to make and tasted great!
Super easy to make, as well. And it’s one of the few slices I’ve made that cuts so easily and looks really good.
Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Hi Sarah, I’m so happy to hear that you found a recipe that works for everyone! 🙂 I love hearing that you enjoyed not only eating it, but making it as well. 🙂 I truly appreciate you taking the time to let me know. Enjoy! .
These are delish! I had to make a dairy free dessert a few days ago and found this recipe – I figured you can’t fail with peanut butter and chocolate! I didn’t have coconut flour so I actually substituted it with sprouted spelt flour, which is also very absorbent. Not gluten-free I realize, but it worked great, and although we ate the dessert right out of the freezer, once it started thawing, the peanut butter layer was still holding together nicely. Everyone loved it and it will definitely become a regular in our house!
Thanks, Ashley! 🙂 You really cannot fail with chocolate & PB. 😉 I’m so glad that your flour sub worked out. So pleased to hear that my recipe will become a staple in your house. Enjoy!
Hi Demeter, I absolutely love your recipes! They are so easy to make, taste scrumptious, and are perfect for my vegan friends (and non-vegans too of course!). These bars were SO yummy but I had a couple of issues: I had to transfer the peanut butter layer to a smaller container to get the same thickness as in your photos, and the peanut butter was a bit too sticky even after freezing. The only thing I did differently was use honey instead of maple syrup. Do you have any insights; I would love to bring these for my co-workers! Thanks for such a wonderful site.
Hi Jessica, thank you so much! 🙂 My hope is that they appeal to both vegan and non-vegans, so yay! 🙂 In terms of insights: did you stir up your peanut butter really well before using? Natural PB can lend semi-unpredictable results when not well-mixed. Were the bars less sticky the next day? I’ve never had an issue with them being too sticky the first day, but even so, by the next day, the coconut flour has absorbed a good amount of moisture and made the bars drier. Lastly, perhaps the honey had a bigger impact than either of us might’ve guessed. I’ve never used it with this recipe, so who knows? 😉 Thanks for stopping by. Hope this helps!
This is absolutely magnificent, scrumptious, delicious, super yummy chocolate peanut butter bars. I am obsessed with healthy desserts! Can i post it on my blog?
Has anyone tried this with other nut butters? Almond? Looks incredible. Thank you
Hi Ricki! I have! 🙂 This ingredient works wonderfully with almond butter–it’s just a tad grittier. Enjoy!
OMG – so good! Thank you!! Made it with the almond butter.
Yay!!! I’m so happy to hear it, Ricki. 🙂 These are AMAZING with almond butter!
Hi, is there anything you can sub for maple syrup to make it lower carb? Looks amazing!!
Hi Melissa, there are a few sugar free maple syrup alternatives you can buy online, or you can make your own (also recipes online). Good luck! Hope you get to try!