These marshmallow peanut butter bars are an easy—and tasty—treat to make for Christmas.
Each holiday season, I’d see pictures of colored marshmallows held together by fudgy chocolate and think, “I need to find out what those are! They look good!”
Turns out, they’re called “Church Window” bars. And, like most retro-recipes, there’s lots of ways to make them. The bones of the recipe call for chocolate and marshmallow. Then, some call for coconut, while others use peanut butter.
Since I love peanut butter during the holiday season (especially peanut butter blossom cookies), I decided to try the peanut butter variation.
Turns out, these classic no-bake bars are really simple to make. Since they are just chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallows, I consider them a confection and not a cookie. I worried how the fruit-flavored marshmallows would work with the peanut butter. The combination works great— think of them as a fun take on peanut butter and jelly.
To make, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. This is key. If your pan is too thin, the chocolate can scorch.
Warm over low heat until everything melts together. (You could stop here, pour this mixture into jars, and give it as gifts. It makes a lovely peanut butter hot fudge sauce.)
Allow the chocolate mixture to cool a little. If you don’t the marshmallows will melt when you add them to the sauce. After a few minutes, stir in the marshmallows.
Spread the mixture into a parchment-lined 9x9x2-inch square pan. Chill.
Cut into squares. Done.
Love Peanut Butter? Here are other gluten-free treats to try!
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
- 5 Ingredient Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
4 Ingredient Peanut Marshmallow Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces; 340 grams)
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter ( 9 ½ ounces; 270 grams)
- 1 stick unsalted butter (4 ounces; 113 grams)
- 1 (10 ounce) bag fruit-flavored or vanilla marshmallows
Instructions
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Line a 9x9x2-inch pan with parchment paper.
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In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Turn on heat to low. This is important. You need to treat this sauce gently or it might scorch. Stir with a wooden spoon or heat resistant spatula until ingredients are melted and smooth. Sauce should be shiny.
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Remove pan from heat. Allow to cool for two minutes.
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Stir marshmallows into cooled chocolate mixture. Spread mixture into prepared pan.
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Chill for three hours or overnight. Using parchment paper, lift bars out of pan. Cut into small squares (These are sweet and rich. Small bars are perfect.)
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Serve or store in a sealed container.
Nn says
I melt the chocolate peanutbutter margarine in the microwave for 30-45 seconds then stir them together. Then fold in marshmallows
lovebug12 says
Wow, wow, wow!!!!! That is all I can say about these bars. The only thing is that you must cut them small. they are VERY rich.
Sandi says
I use this recipe, but I use milk chocolate chips, I use half the marshmallows, and that same amount chopped walnuts, it taste exactly like a Chunky candy bar, the marshmallows replace the raisins.its amazing!
Lorraine says
Excellent easy & quick great for family gatherings cut small they are very rich.
Lilian Hand says
That sounds so good. I have made something very similar to that except instead chocolate chips I put butterscotch chips.