Buckeye Bars is a simple no-bake peanut butter and chocolate dessert recipe based on the classic Ohio state candy ball but made easier in bar form. This naturally gluten-free sweet treat can be prepared in 15 minutes using only 6 ingredients.
Best No-Bake Buckeye Bars
This easy Buckeye Bars recipe is a tasty twist on the traditional Buckeye balls, but can be made in less time and without the work because there’s no rolling required!
With the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate layered into a sweet and salty treat, you get the same delicious flavor of the candy, served as a slice that you can share.
Each decadent bite of these dessert bars contains a sweet and chewy peanut butter base that’s covered with a smooth chocolate ganache topping. It’s like preparing a crustless pan of my Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie, cut into squares instead of a circle.
Why We Love This Buckeye Bars Recipe
- Quick and easy to prepare in 15 minutes.
- Only uses 6 simple ingredients to create a delicious 2-layered dessert.
- Naturally gluten-free, no-bake melt-in-your mouth recipe.
- No need to heat up the kitchen with a hot oven.
- Taste like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups but in bar form.
- Double the recipe to feed a crowd or freeze for later.
- Perfectly portable for potlucks, picnics, parties, or game day gatherings.
Other Dessert Bar Recipes
Ingredients
- Salted sweet cream butter
- Creamy peanut butter: Feel free to use crunchy peanut butter if you prefer more texture.
- Powdered sugar
- Pure vanilla extract
- Semi sweet chocolate chips
- Vegetable oil
Substitutions and Additions
- Choose Your Chocolate: You can use dark, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate for the chocolate ganache topping. If you prefer a sweet and creamy chocolate topping, try the milk chocolate chips. If you want something a bit more bitter and rich, then use semi-sweet or dark chocolate.
- Tasty Toppings: Although it would be straying from the “traditional” buckeye candies, feel free to add some extra texture to your treats. Top your bars with crushed nuts, chocolate sprinkles, chopped candy, Reese’s Pieces, pretzel pieces, or flakey sea salt for a subtle saltiness.
Recommended Tools
- 9×13 baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Stand mixer or handheld mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring tools
- Spatula
- Sharp knife
How to Make Buckeye Bars
Buckeye Bars are an easy, 2-layered treat that tastes like Buckeye balls, but made without the work. A thick peanut butter bottom is covered in a simple chocolate topping, chilled, and then sliced and meant to be shared!
- Prepare The Peanut Butter Layer: Mix the butter, peanut butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until completely incorporated. Spread the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Make The Chocolate Ganache Layer: Heat the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave until the mixture is completely smooth. Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer.
- Chill: Cover and chill the bars in the refrigerator for 15 – 20 minutes, and then cut them into 15 (2 ½” x 3″) slices. Cover and return the bars to the refrigerator to chill for an additional 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Serve: Remove the bars from the baking dish with the parchment paper. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: You may need to carefully re-slice the bars.
Tips from Our Recipe Developer
- For easier clean-up line your baking dish with parchment paper before baking. This will allow you to easily lift them out of the pan and slice for serving.
- Use processed peanut butter in this recipe, not natural peanut butter. The oils separate in natural peanut butter and it doesn’t hold as nicely together as the processed version does.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Allow the bars to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Other Easy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Recipes
- Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Ball
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
- Disneyland Peanut Butter Sandwich Bars
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Chubby Hubby Bars
Buckeye Bars
Serves — 15
Buckeye Bars are an easy-to-make recipe with the same classic peanut butter and chocolate combination as the candy ball. This no-bake treat is a delicious layered dessert full of Buckeye flavor.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Video
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Bar
- 8 tbsp salted sweet cream butter softened
- 3 cups creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate Ganache
- 12 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
Peanut Butter Layer
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper. Set it aside.
- Using either a stand mixer, or a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute, until smooth.
- Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Continue mixing for 1 minute, until smooth.
- Lower the mixer speed to medium-low and add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each cup. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue mixing until completely incorporated.
- Using either a silicone spatula, or an offset spatula, evenly spread the peanut butter mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Chocolate Ganache
- Add the chocolate chips and oil to a small microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, stir, and continue to mix in 15 second intervals until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Using a silicone spatula, or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer. Cover and chill the refrigerator for 15 – 20 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator. Carefully slice the buckeye bars into 15 – 2 ½ in x 3 in slices. Cover the baking dish and return the bars to the refrigerator to continue chilling for an additional 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Remove the bars from the dish by the parchment paper. You may need to carefully re-slice the bars. Serve immediately.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the bars for up to 3 months. Allow the bars to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
- For easier clean-up line your baking dish with parchment paper before baking. This will allow you to easily lift them out of the pan and slice for serving.
- Use processed peanut butter in this recipe, not natural peanut butter. The oils separate in natural peanut butter and it doesn’t hold as nicely together as the processed version does.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
I have SEARCHED & SEARCHED for a recipe for Buckeye Bars (aka Peanut Butter Bars) that DID NOT REQUIRE Graham crumbs and you’ve done it!! THANK YOU!!!
love simple easy recipes
Could you substitute vegetable oil with coconut oil?
I wonder how it would be if you put a chocolate layer on the bottom too!!!
I have yet to try these, made it and it definitely doesnโt spread in the pan with a spatulaโฆ it was more of a thick cookie dough that needed to be pressed into the panโฆ. I hope they at least taste good!!! Lol
Have you tried this recipe with sunbutter as a nut free alternative? I’m curious if it will work the same way?
I have not tried that! If you do, please let me know how it comes out for you!
What brownie layer are you talking about? The ingredient list does not include any brownie mix but you say to spread the peanut butter mixture over the brownie layer.
I honestly have no idea how that line got into this post. Thank you for pointing it out – it has been corrected!
I made Buckeyes last Christmas and the family loved them. They took quite a while to make and I think this recipe will be much easier and less time consuming.
Love anything peanut butter!! Buckeye balls are a favorite
this will be one of my favorite recipes. My Husband loves anything sweet made with peanut butter