Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + chilling

Makes

4 dozen

Updated: Sep. 15, 2023
My secret to these rich no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 ounces) miniature pretzels, divided
  • 1-1/2 cups butter, melted
  • 1-1/2 cups peanut butter
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon shortening

Directions

  1. Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with foil, letting ends extend up sides. Set aside 1-1/2 cups pretzels for topping. In a food processor, pulse remaining pretzels until fine crumbs form. In a large bowl, mix butter, peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and pretzel crumbs.
  2. Press mixture into prepared pan. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Spread over peanut butter layer. Break reserved pretzels and sprinkle over top; press down gently. Refrigerate, covered, until set, about 1 hour. Lifting with foil, remove from pan. Cut into bars.

Test Kitchen Tips
  • Because shortening melts at a higher temperature than butter, it’s useful for baking cookies that you want to have a nice uniform shape.
  • Unless otherwise specified, Taste of Home recipes are tested with lightly salted butter. Unsalted, or sweet, butter is sometimes used to achieve a buttery flavor, such as in shortbread cookies or buttercream frosting. In these recipes, added salt would detract from the buttery taste desired.
  • Try all of our salty and sweet pretzel desserts.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 bar: 201 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 233mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.