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Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

These easy peanut butter fudge bars are a delicious treat that the whole family will love. It’s also easy to make, so you can get the kids involved in the process.

Stack of peanut butter fudge bars on a plate

You can cut these bars as big or as small as you want, based on the number of people you’re feeding.

When I bring them to potluck dinners, I cut them smaller to make sure everyone gets one.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Together Again

I’ve always enjoyed dessert bars because they’re usually simple. These peanut butter Cocoa Krispie treats are a favorite around here.

Peanut butter has always been one of my favorite foods. In fact, if I have a choice between that and almost any other flavor, there’s a good chance I’ll pick the peanut butter.

We also like these chocolate caramel pecan bars. After all, what’s not to like when you have all three of these delicious flavors in one bite?

These delicious pumpkin bars are good any time of year. They’re easy to make, and they disappear quickly.

Peanut Butter Fudge Bars Ingredients

You’ll need a package of yellow cake mix. Since I have to follow a gluten-free diet, I use gluten-free mixes. However, you can also use a regular mix.

I’ve never tried making them with sugar-free cake mix, but I think that would work too. Just remember that the sweetened condensed milk has sugar, so the final results won’t be sugar-free.

Other ingredients you need are peanut butter, an egg, vegetable oil, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and butter.

Yellow cake mix, cooking oil, egg, peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and chocolate chips

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by using the “print” button.

How to Make Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

You’ll be amazed by how easy this is to make. As long as you have the right ingredients and follow the directions, it’s foolproof.

First, preheat your oven to 350 and grease the bottom of a baking pan.

Next, combine the cake mix, peanut butter, oil, and egg.

I like to beat the egg and then add the oil and peanut butter before pouring in the mix. But the order really doesn’t matter.

Mixing peanut butter and cake mix

After it’s mixed, pour approximately 2/3 of it into your baking pan.

With the back of a firm spoon or your hands, gently press the mixture to lightly pack it.

If you don’t pack it, the bars will be very crumbly and difficult to hold together.

Bottom crust pressed into pan

Put it in the oven and bake it for 10 minutes.

Afterward, place it on a cooling rack while you do the next few steps.

Baked peanut butter fudge bar crust

You can either heat the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan on the stovetop or microwave it in a bowl. This time, I used the stovetop method.

Combine the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and chocolate chips in a medium-size saucepan.

Chocolate chips, butter, and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan

Place it on the stove and turn the heat on low. Stir the mixture frequently so that it doesn’t scorch.

After the chocolate chips have melted and well mixed, pour it over the crust in the baking dish. Smooth it out until it is even all the way across.

Chocolate mixture smoothed over bottom crust

Finally, sprinkle the remaining cake mix and peanut butter mixture over the top.

You’ll still be able to see the chocolate, but that’s okay.

Remaining crust crumbled on top of chocolate

Bake this for 20 minutes or until the topping has turned golden brown.

Baked peanut butter fudge bars

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

After it cools to room temperature, cut it into squares or rectangles.

peanut butter fudge bars on a plate

Serve it for dessert or an afternoon treat. Without a doubt, your family will love this yummy treat!

If you don’t eat all of these bars right away, you need to refrigerate them. Otherwise, they’ll be a melty mess.

Is There Any Gluten in Sweetened Condensed Milk?

Since sweetened condensed milk is made with milk and sugar, both gluten-free ingredients.

There is no wheat, barley, or rye in sweetened condensed milk.

More Recipes

You can use these peanut butter fudge bars as a bribe to get your kids to eat their veggies. Or you can make the vegetables so delicious they can’t resist.

One of our favorite dishes packed with nutrition and flavor is this Italian chicken zucchini casserole.

My friend Miz Helen makes this delicious chicken noodle casserole that has everything you need for a complete dinner.

Another thing you can serve is a delicious salad, such as this tomato cucumber corn salad. This can either be a side salad, or you can add protein and make it your meal.

Fudge bar servings on a plate

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Peanut butter fudge bars are easy to make and delicious for a snack or dessert after a family dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 package of yellow cake mix (regular or gluten-free)
  • 1 cup of peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
  • One 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons of butter

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom of a 13” x 9” baking pan.
    2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, peanut butter, oil, and egg. Stir until well mixed.
    3. Pour about 2/3 of this mixture into the baking pan and press it until it is lightly packed.
    4. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
    5. In a saucepan, heat the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and chocolate chips on low heat until the chocolate chips are melted.
    6. Pour the mixture over the room temperature crust.
    7. Sprinkle the rest of the cake mix and peanut butter mixture over the top.
    8. Bake for 20 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
    9. Cool and cut into square or rectangular bars.

Notes

If you prefer melting the chocolate chips in the microwave, put them in a medium-size mixing bowl with the sweetened condensed milk, butter. Heat on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir. Continue heating in 30-second increments and stirring until the chocolate chips have melted.

Store these bars in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 606Total Fat 32gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 19gCholesterol 36mgSodium 500mgCarbohydrates 74gFiber 3gSugar 52gProtein 11g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

See this recipe shared at Meal Plan Monday, Weekend Potluck, and Full Plate Thursday.

Please feel free to share!

Miz Helen

Tuesday 5th of May 2020

I was so excited to feature you post on Full Plate Thursday,482! Thanks so much for sharing it with us and hope you will come back soon, have a great week. Miz Helen

Miz Helen

Tuesday 28th of April 2020

Your Peanut Butter Fudge Bars look amazing. Thanks so much for the mention about my Chicken Casserole, I really appreciate it! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and please come back soon! Miz Helen

Joanne

Wednesday 22nd of April 2020

OH wow! These look amazing. Pinned.

southernhomeexpress

Wednesday 22nd of April 2020

Thanks, Joanne! I hope you try this recipe and enjoy them. They are so good!

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