No-Bake Chubby Hubby Bars
When I was a freshman in college, my roommate and I kept our little dorm-size freezer stocked with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Now that I think about it, I’m not even sure how we got that ice cream… neither of us had a car so we didn’t go grocery shopping. Maybe my mom brought it down for us? In any case, we were rarely without at least two pints of ice cream and the flavors we made sure were always in that freezer were peanut butter cup and chubby hubby. Peanut butter cup is pretty self-explanatory, but if you’re not familiar with chubby hubby ice cream, it’s malted vanilla ice cream loaded with peanut butter-filled, chocolate-covered pretzels. So basically, it’s my personal flavor nirvana.
Vanilla, peanut butter, salty pretzels and chocolate. These are my desert island flavors, without a doubt. I’ve combined these ingredients in the past in things like chubby hubby truffles, Rice Krispie treats, and even milkshakes… I was thinking about that flavor combo again recently and thought that a good ol’ chocolate bar/bark was in order!
I first started thinking about these bars in terms of a bark (you know how much I love my peppermint bark around the holidays!), and then it morphed into more of a bar idea, a la the homemade Snickers bars.
I started with a layer of melted semisweet chocolate (although feel free to use milk or dark if you prefer), topped it with miniature pretzel sticks, then added a peanut butter layer similar to the filling of buckeyes (another holiday favorite of mine), and then finished the bars off with another layer of melted chocolate.
Peanut butter-filled, chocolate-covered pretzels in bar form. Done and done.
Maybe I should go all-out and top one with some vanilla ice cream? Perhaps to celebrate that I never have to study for another final for the rest of my life? I think I just sold myself on that idea.
One year ago: Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
Two years ago: Pesto Chicken Salad
Five years ago: Snickerdoodle Blondies
Six years ago: Bananas Foster Banana Bread
Seven years ago: Plain Bagels
Chubby Hubby Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (453.59 g) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped, divided
- 3 cups (168 g) pretzel sticks
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (258 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides.
- Place half of the chocolate in a medium bowl and microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted. Pour the chocolate into an even layer in the prepared pan.
- Gently place the pretzel sticks in an even layer on top of the melted chocolate. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the next layer.
- Whisk together the melted butter and peanut butter, then whisk in the powdered sugar until completely smooth. Spread in an even layer over top of the pretzels.
- Melt the remaining half of the chocolate using the same method as in step #2. Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and use an offset spatula to spread in an even layer. Return to the pan to the refrigerator until set, about 30 minutes. Cut into bars and serve. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Hi Michelle~ quick question: Â what kind of semi-sweet chocolate did you use for these? chocolate chips? the chocolate wafers? Â I’m thinking about making these for the cookie table for my daughter’s wedding reception, and want to be certain I get it right for such an important event for her.
I made these today. And although they are delicious, they did not cut nicely into bars. Â most of it fell apart when I tried to
Cut it.  Disappointed because  it was one of the desserts that I wanted to serve.  They are not presentable Â
These are so excellent, everyone loved them! I did use less chocolate(I know sorry, what’s wrong with me? basically 200g melted on the bottom & 125g on the top; & did a vegan version so my daughter could eat them) and I added an extra layer of pretzels on top of the peanut butter! & was totally good. My question is, have you ever frozen these? Does the pretzel stay crisp I wonder?) Keep up the great work I love your stuff. I cracked up about the peanut butter egg story! Same for me, totally! The reeses eggs were to die for, I live overseas & can’t get them, but now! omg! I’m going to try, thanks! :)
Hi Linda, I’m glad you enjoyed these! And yes, these freeze very well!
I have yet to make these, but share your love of chubby hubby!!! As a result, I substitute malt powder in place of some of the flour in many of my cookie recipes. I’m thinking that replacing half of the powdered sugar with malt powder may take these over the top with those chubby hubby flavors:)Â
This recipe is great! My high school class went on a trip to The Dells and I was in charge of making bars for our first supper. I love peanut butter and chocolate, so I decided to go with this recipe. I did have a classmate who was gluten-free so I took out the pretzels and swapped creamy peanut butter for crunchy peanut butter. It still had good texture and tasted good.
Made these a few months ago and had trouble cutting through the bottom layer of chocolate. It kept cracking. BUT… it didn’t take anything away from the taste! Everyone loved them! I just got a request to make them again, so here I am!!
Hi :) Just made these last weekend and they were a big hit! making them again this weekend because I was requested to! I’ve see other recipes for these bars but they need to be baked. Everyone loved these bars. I cut mine smaller and that was fine because they are quite rich. Thanks so much for the recipe, this is a definite keeper :)
Eye catching final product! I always make just like Reese’s bars and cutting the bars before the chocolate sets is a tricky proposition in order to get a clean cut without the chocolate breaking. How do you keep the bottom layer in tact when cutting the bars once it sets in the frig? I’m looking forward to trying this recipe!
I didn’t do anything special, just cut right through them!
NO bake and easier to make than the truffles? Where do I sign up?
I had a really hard time spreading the chocolate across the entire 9×13. I added just a pinch of shortening and it helped out a lot and they still hardened nicely. If anyone else has this issue, just something easy to try.
PPeanut butter will be my hidden stuffed animal as I enter college.
Also thanks for a no bake recipe! Although pb and college may go together, 100 degrees and 375 degree ovens just arent too cool.
Wow those look incredible! Not being much of an ice cream person myself, I think I would actually like these better than the original ice cream flavor… :)
Love that you turned Chubby Hubby into no bake bars! Can’t beat the sweet and salty combination. Serve them with a scoop of Chubby Hubby ice cream on top for a sundae ;)
These are to die for! No-bake is my life right now. :)
This looks divine. Is it too much lily gilding to add a layer of marshmallow to this?
I think marshmallow is always a good idea :)
Um, YES please! They sound amazing and I am allll about the no-bake things right now :)
I love this! And yes, chubby hubby is the best flavor ever. Next favorite in chunky monkey :)
I love the way the pretzel sticks look once the squares are sliced, but I’m curious how most of them look cut crosswise (so they appear circular) even on adjacent edges of the bar. Did you lay them down in perpendicular patterns (not that it matters once I am shoving them into my mouth). : )
Hi Cynthia, I laid them all the same way (3 rows), but you could certainly lay them down however you’d like!
Add a little caramel and you have Take 5… soooo good! :)
Pathetic confession: I moved across the country (Canada) not too long ago and one of the main reasons I miss being near my family and friends is that I can’t bake anymore. These look so good but my boyfriend and I would end up eating the entire pan. Like we did with your apple cheesecake crumb bars. At least those had fruit.
I love your taste in Ben and Jerry’s! And I love these bars!! My husband is a choco PB fanatic, so this name is all too perfect for my household :)
Yes, please! :)
These look amazing! Everything I love in bar can be extremely dangerous.
No bake treats in summer are the best!! Love this!
Sounds easy and yummy! Perfect for a summer dessert. Now, if you can tweak it a bit to include the malted flavor…food for thought. :-)
When I was in college we did the same thing! We had a 7-11 within walking distance of our dorm (and later our apartment) so we could always get a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Chubby Hubby was my roommate’s favorite flavor. I think I was happy with anything as long as it had chocolate :)
Good memories!
Yummy, Yummy and Yummy! Thanks for this recipe :)
x M. / http://nevermindnm.blogspot.com/