Nut-Licious Peanut Butter Bars

Total Time:Prep: 45 min. Bake: 15 min. + chilling

By Taste Of Home Editorial Team

Recipe by hannah wolters, CULLEOKA, Tennessee

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Updated on Oct. 04, 2022

My friends were astonished to find out these bars were not button-busting. We nick named them bamboozled bars! —Hannah Wolters, Culleoka, Tennessee

TEST KITCHEN APPROVED

Nut-Licious Peanut Butter Bars

Contest Winner
Yield:2 dozen
Prep:45 min
Cook:30 min

Ingredients

  • crust:
    • 1-1/2 cups reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs (about 10 whole crackers)
    • 1/3 cup honey
    • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • nut topping:
    • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
    • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • filling:
    • 12 ounces fat-free cream cheese
    • 2/3 cup peanut butter
    • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
    • 1/2 cup honey
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • drizzle:
    • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
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Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients. Press onto the bottom of a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
  2. Meanwhile, combine the nuts, honey and cinnamon. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment and coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 5-7 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Crumble mixture and set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, butter, confectioners' sugar and honey until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla and maple flavoring. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually beat into cream cheese mixture. Spread over cooled crust. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until set.
  4. Sprinkle nut mixture over warm filling; press in slightly. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool completely on a wire rack. Chill for 2 hours or until firm. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.
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