If you love the sweet, salty magic of childhood treats, The BEST Nutter Butter Bars bring all your dessert dreams together in one ultimate pan. Imagine layers of rich, buttery Nutter Butter crust, a creamy peanut butter filling, and a colorful, candy-studded topping, all drizzled with melted peanut butter and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. These bars strike the perfect balance between chewy, crunchy, and gooey, making them practically impossible to stop eating. Whether you’re serving a crowd or just treating yourself, The BEST Nutter Butter Bars are guaranteed to become your new favorite indulgence.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The BEST Nutter Butter Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Sometimes the tastiest desserts come from a handful of familiar pantry staples that truly shine when combined just right. Each of these ingredients adds a layer of flavor and texture, creating a dessert that’s way more than the sum of its parts. Get ready to see how these simple things come together in The BEST Nutter Butter Bars!

Nutter Butter cookies: Crushed into crumbs, these iconic cookies form the sweet, nutty, ultra-buttery base for the bars.
Melted butter: Helps bind the crust and adds delicious richness that keeps each bite melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Brown sugar: A dash of molasses flavor deepens the nutty sweetness and balances out the salty accents.
Salt: Just a pinch sharpens every flavor and harmonizes the sweetness throughout the bar.
Sweetened condensed milk: This creates a seriously creamy filling that’s perfectly sweet and luscious.
Creamy peanut butter: Essential for that bold, irresistible peanut butter punch, both in the filling and for an extra drizzle on top.
Peanut butter chips: Little bursts of peanutty caramel flavor that melt into the filling and add extra creaminess.
Roasted peanuts: For crunch and that classic roasted peanut intensity in every layer.
Nutter Butter cookies (chopped): More cookies! Sprinkle these on top for a double-hit of that iconic flavor and fantastic texture.
Reese’s Pieces candy: Adds pops of color, crunch, and even more peanut butter goodness.
Flaky sea salt (optional): A sprinkle at the end brings everything into perfect salty-sweet harmony.
Creamy peanut butter (for drizzle): Melting this for a final drizzle makes your bars look (and taste) store-bought spectacular.

How to Make The BEST Nutter Butter Bars

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a 9 x 13-inch pan with parchment paper. This little prep step means you’ll lift out flawless bars with no sticking or crumbling, and cleanup will be a breeze. Lay the parchment so it hangs over the edges a bit, creating handles for later.

Step 2: Make the Nutter Butter Crust

Here’s where you’ll build a solid (and seriously scrumptious) foundation. Crush 32 Nutter Butter cookies—about 4 cups—using a food processor, blender, or the classic ziptop bag and rolling pin method for nostalgia’s sake. Mix the fine crumbs with brown sugar and salt in a large bowl, then pour in that glorious melted butter. Stir everything really well so every crumb is buttery. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into your prepared pan using a flat glass or measuring cup.

Step 3: Prepare the Peanut Butter Filling

Now it’s all about creamy, dreamy peanut butter flavor. Microwave 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter for about 30 seconds, just to make it extra smooth. Stir in the entire can of sweetened condensed milk and mix until everything’s blended into a silky, shiny filling that’s utterly irresistible.

Step 4: Layer On the Toppings

This is where The BEST Nutter Butter Bars become downright legendary! Start by scattering peanut butter chips and roasted peanuts evenly over the crust. Pour the peanut butter filling right over the top, letting it trickle into every nook and cranny. Then, go wild with the chopped Nutter Butters and a super-generous shower of Reese’s Pieces. With a spatula or fork, gently press all those toppings into the filling so they’ll stick after baking. If you’re a fan of salty-sweet, now’s the perfect time to add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Slide your pan into the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes—just until the edges turn a deep golden brown and everything looks beautifully set. Once baked, let the pan rest on a wire rack until completely cool, then pop it into the refrigerator to chill. Chilling makes for easy, clean cutting and helps meld all those amazing flavors.

Step 6: Peanut Butter Drizzle and Serve

When you’re ready to serve, microwave 2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter until melted and silky. Drizzle generously across the chilled bars for the ultimate finishing touch. Cut into squares (as big or small as you want!), and prepare yourself for rave reviews from everyone lucky enough to take a bite.

How to Serve The BEST Nutter Butter Bars

Garnishes

For truly showstopping presentation, a buttery peanut butter drizzle on top is just the beginning. You can scatter extra chopped roasted peanuts, a few whole Reese’s Pieces, or even a pinch of flaky sea salt right before serving to make each square look bakery-case worthy. If you love a polished look, try a bit of melted chocolate zigzagged over the top alongside the peanut butter.

Side Dishes

The BEST Nutter Butter Bars practically beg for a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pair them with strong coffee for an afternoon treat, or set them alongside fresh berries or a fruit salad for a bright, summery contrast. If you’re making these for a party, serve with an assortment of salty snacks—pretzels or popcorn are unexpectedly fabulous companions!

Creative Ways to Present

Whether you’re sharing these at a holiday potluck or lunchbox-treating the kids, The BEST Nutter Butter Bars adapt to every occasion. Stack squares on a tiered platter for bake sales, wrap individual pieces in parchment for gift baskets, or cut them into bite-sized cubes for party platters. For a fun twist, serve them chilled with little toothpicks as finger-friendly dessert bites.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any extra bars in an airtight container in the fridge—they’ll stay fresh and chewy for up to a week. The layers hold together beautifully when chilled, and the peanut butter drizzle stays luscious without getting sticky.

Freezing

If you need to prep ahead or want to stash a secret treat for yourself, The BEST Nutter Butter Bars freeze wonderfully! Cut into portions, place parchment between layers, and freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator whenever a craving hits.

Reheating

While these bars are delicious straight from the fridge or at room temperature, you can gently warm a square in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds for an extra-gooey treat. Just know the peanut butter drizzle may get softer, which makes them even more decadent.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cookie for the crust?

While Nutter Butters truly make these the BEST Nutter Butter Bars, if you’re in a pinch you can swap in another peanut butter or vanilla sandwich cookie. Just note the flavor will be a little different—nothing quite matches that signature Nutter Butter crunch.

Do I have to add all the toppings?

Feel free to customize! If you don’t have Reese’s Pieces or want to skip the peanuts, just leave them out or replace with other favorite candies or chocolate chips. The bars will still come together deliciously.

How do I get clean, neat slices?

For perfect squares, chill the bars thoroughly and use a large, sharp knife. Wipe the knife clean between cuts to keep the edges tidy. Using parchment paper makes lifting and cutting even easier.

Are these bars gluten-free?

Unfortunately, Nutter Butter cookies contain wheat, so the bars are not gluten-free as written. However, if you can find a gluten-free peanut butter sandwich cookie, feel free to give it a try!

Can I double the recipe for a crowd?

Absolutely! You can easily double all the ingredients and use two pans, or a giant sheet pan, to make The BEST Nutter Butter Bars for a party. Just keep an eye on baking time—a larger batch may need a few extra minutes.

Final Thoughts

Trust me, once you try The BEST Nutter Butter Bars, you’ll want to make them for every special occasion—or just because it’s Tuesday. They’re so fun, so satisfying, and so easy to share. Go ahead, whip up a batch and see for yourself why this recipe is hands-down a keeper!