Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Name: Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert (Dream Bar Recipe)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces peanut butter sandwich cookies, (crushed (reserve 8 to 9 cookies to crush for topping)); 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, (melted (½ cup)); 1½ cups milk; 3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding; 4 ounces cream cheese, (softened); ½ cup powdered sugar; ½ cup creamy peanut butter; 8 ounces Cool Whip; ½ cup milk chocolate chips; ½ cup peanut butter chips; reserved peanut butter sandwich cookies, (crushed)

corner shot of a slice of a peanut butter dream bar on a white plate

Our peanut butter chocolate dessert is loaded with chocolate pudding, a fluffy layer of cream cheese and peanut butter, and a cookie base for a sinfully delicious treat.

Jump to Recipe

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time2 25

Servings

Table of Contents

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert Ingredients
Dream Bars Substitutions & Additions
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna
How to serve this Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert
Dream Bars Recipe FAQs
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Layers of fluffy whipped cream, silky chocolate pudding, and creamy peanut butter make this peanut butter chocolate dessert a dream. This “almost” no-bake dessert proves that the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter is anything but boring. These dessert bars are rich yet balanced, indulgent yet approachable, transforming comfort food into something worth revisiting again and again.

corner shot of a single slice of peanut butter dream bars

What You Need To Know

Main Ingredients: Peanut butter sandwich cookies, butter, chocolate pudding, milk, cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, Cool Whip
Quick Steps: Bake crust, add chocolate layer, add peanut butter layer, top with Cool Whip.
Time and Yield: 2 hours 25 minutes, Serves 12
Pro Tip: Add a pinch of sea salt on top to enhance the sweetness and flavors.
Why This Recipe: With its blend of textures and balance of flavors, this recipe masterfully avoids the overly sweet trap. Plus, its simplicity doesn’t sacrifice presentation or taste. Many layered desserts can be daunting, but this one is foolproof, allowing you to impress without stress.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert Ingredients

Peanut Butter Dream Bars raw ingredients that are labeled

For these chocolate peanut butter dream bars, you’ll need:

For The Crust:

16-ounce package of peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed* (reserve 8-9 cookies to crush for topping)
8 tablespoons (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted

*To crush cookies, you can use a food processor, or a rolling pin, and a Ziploc bag.

For The Chocolate Layer:

1½ cups of milk
3.9-ounce box of instant chocolate pudding

For The Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer:

4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
½ cup of creamy peanut butter
½ cup of powdered sugar

For The Whipped Topping Layer:

8-ounce tub of Cool Whip whipped topping
½ cup of milk chocolate chips
½ cup of peanut butter chips
6 reserved peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed

Dream Bars Substitutions & Additions

MILK: This should not be made with soy or almond milk. It will come out watery.

COOKIES: If you can’t find peanut butter cookies, you can substitute vanilla or chocolate sandwich cookies.

PEANUT BUTTER: We would recommend sticking to regular peanut butter rather than natural peanut butter as it may affect the consistency of the dessert. You could use chunky peanut butter for an extra crunch in your peanut butter dream bars.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna

Chocolate peanut butter lasagna (aka Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars) is a delicious layered dessert that combines the flavors of chocolate, peanut butter, and creamy fillings. It is often referred to as a “lasagna” due to its layered structure,

Here’s how you make this recipe:

For The Crust

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8×8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP TWO: Using a small mixing bowl, combine the crushed cookies and the melted butter. Stir cookie base ingredients to coat all the crumbs completely.

crushed cookies and melted butter combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the square pan.

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the baked crust to cool completely.

For The Chocolate Pudding Layer

STEP ONE: Using a small bowl and handheld electric mixer on medium speed or a wire whisk, beat together the chocolate pudding mix and the cold milk.

Continue mixing until the pudding is thickened.

chocolate pudding mix and milk combined in a bowl

STEP TWO: Use either a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate layer over the cooled crust. Set it in the refrigerator while you make the peanut butter layer.

PRO TIP

Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don’t end up with lumps in your layer.

chocolate layer being added on top of crumb layer in a baking dish

For The Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer

STEP ONE: Using a medium bowl and a hand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese for about 1 minute until smooth.

STEP TWO: Add the creamy peanut butter and continue mixing on medium-high for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, until smooth.

cream cheese and peanut butter combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Reduce the mixer speed to low, slowly add in the confectioner’s sugar, and continue to mix until completely incorporated.

powdered sugar added to the mixture in the bowl

STEP FOUR: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and evenly spread the peanut butter mixture over the top of the chocolate pudding layer.

STEP FIVE: Top the peanut butter layer with the 8-ounce tub of whipped topping.

STEP SIX: Evenly sprinkle peanut butter and milk chocolate chips over the whipped topping.

STEP SEVEN: Evenly sprinkle the crushed sandwich cookies over the peanut butter and chocolate chips.

peanut butter layer topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips

STEP EIGHT: Return the baking dish to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.

How to serve this Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert

Cut these chocolate peanut butter dream bars into 2-inch x 2-inch squares.

Then, serve either on their own or as a base for an even more decadent dessert. A drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel sauce on top would make this treat out-of-this-world amazing.

MORE PEANUT BUTTER RECIPES

Cookie Recipes

Cookie Peanut Butter Cups

Pie Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

A few more of our peanut butter dream bar style recipes to try include our peanut butter brownies and peanut butter lasagna.

How to Store Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert

IN THE FRIDGE: Keep any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can also freeze the peanut butter dessert bars. Cover with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Allow the peanut butter bars to thaw before cutting and serving.

overhead shot of a pan of peanut butter dream bars with a piece taken out

The chocolate and peanut butter filling are such a perfect combination of incredible flavors – making any dessert a real dream. Adding whipped cream and a cookie base makes this peanut butter chocolate dessert recipe a rich and decadent treat to whip up for a gathering or a weeknight surprise.

Share these nearly no-bake peanut butter chocolate desserts with friends, or keep it all to yourself!

Dream Bars Recipe FAQs

Do you have to bake this great recipe?

This easy dessert is ALMOST a no-bake recipe. You just have to bake the crust before adding the other layers.

Can I use a 9 x 9-inch pan instead of an 8 x 8 pan?

You could use a slightly bigger pan, although it would mean your layers would not be as thick. We do suggest if you want to make a larger peanut butter and chocolate dessert, double the recipe using a 9×13 pan.

Can I freeze this homemade peanut butter bars dessert?

Peanut butter dream bars can be frozen for up to three months.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert (Dream Bar Recipe)

5 from 3 votes

Our peanut butter chocolate dessert is loaded with chocolate pudding, a fluffy layer of cream cheese and peanut butter, and a cookie base for a sinfully delicious treat.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 2 25

Servings

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Ingredients

For the Crust

16 ounces peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed (reserve 8 to 9 cookies to crush for topping)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (½ cup)

For the Chocolate Layer

1½ cups milk
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding

For the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
½ cup creamy peanut butter

For the Whipped Topping Layer

8 ounces Cool Whip
½ cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
reserved peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed

Instructions

For the Crust

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8×8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Using a small mixing bowl, combine the crushed cookies and the melted butter. Stir cookie base ingredients to completely coat all the crumbs.
Press crumb mixture into the bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the baked crust to cool completely.

For the Chocolate Pudding Layer

Using a small bowl and a handheld electric mixer on medium speed or a wire whisk, beat together the chocolate pudding mix and the cold milk. Continue mixing until the pudding is thickened.
Use either a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate layer over the cooled crust. Set it in the refrigerator while you make the peanut butter layer.

For the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer

Using a medium bowl and a hand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese for about 1 minute until smooth.
Add the creamy peanut butter and continue mixing on medium-high for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, until smooth.
Reduce the mixer speed to low, slowly add in the confectioners' sugar and continue to mix until completely incorporated.
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and evenly spread the peanut butter mixture over the top of the chocolate pudding layer.
Top the peanut butter layer with the 8-ounce tub of whipped topping.
Evenly sprinkle peanut butter and milk chocolate chips over the whipped topping.
Evenly sprinkle the crushed sandwich cookies over the peanut butter and chocolate chips.
Return the baking dish to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.
Cut the dessert into 2-inch x 2-inch squares.

Video

Notes

You can double the recipe and make it in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
To crush cookies, you can either use a food processor or a rolling pin and Ziploc bag.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don’t end up with lumps in your layer.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Layne Kangas Marketing
Sian Cox Photographer
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