Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

I am giving you the easiest dessert in the entire world, telling you that it's REALLY NOT THAT BAD FOR YOU, and suggesting that you make it for Mother's Day.  

Because here's the thing.  A quick Google of the holiday indicates that either super fancy desserts or super fancy (read: expensive) brunches are how we prove to our mamas that we love them.  Is that how it is in your family?  I'm sorry if so, or jealous that you're a better baker and/or more wealthy than me?  

In my family, however, my sweet mother is all "don't spend your moneyyyyy!  I don't need anythinnnnggg!!"  Not really shrill but just kind of ... guys.  I know you love me.  Money doesn't change that.  Thank goodness, because I have precious little money.  I'm also relatively terrible at baking complicated things because I have zero patience, but WHO among us doesn't love a good sweet especially for a holiday celebrating the very one that gave us life?  Or raised us?  Or did motherly things for us?  People with all sorts of definitions of mothering deserve these bars, is my point.  

Here's your answer.  If you're celebrating anything or anyone this weekend and want to make a nice gesture without breaking the bank or spending half the day on something that might fail, MAKE THESE.  They're simple, taste like an effing Reese's, and have peanut butter (antioxidants), graham (probably definitely a whole grain), and peanut butter (protein, duh).  So, basically a health food.  

You need lots of peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate chips.  Seriously.  The end.  You could probably play around with flavors and add vanilla or some spices, but why even bother?  

Since there's no baking, this goes really quick.  So, prep a 9x13 or equivalent pan with cooking spray or some parchment paper.  I use 1 strip of parchment paper along the bottom of the pan with the ends sticking out for easy bar removal later on.  Then, melt the butter in the microwave.  Add the powdered sugar...

...and the peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs!  

Mix the peanut butter mixture together until it's smooth - if your peanut better is really firm you can microwave everything again for a few seconds to help it soften.  

Then, press the mixture into the bottom of the dish you prepared.  

Now, the chocolate!  Put it in a bowl.  

Microwave it for 30 seconds.  Stir.  

Microwave for 30 more seconds.  Stir again.  Keep going until the chocolate is smooth - maybe 2 or 3 more small increments in the microwave.   

When the chocolate is totally melted, pour it all over the peanut butter mixture.  

Smooth it out, then place the bars in the fridge for at least an hour to chill.  When you can't handle it anymore, carefully remove the bars from the dish, then cut them!  You can also cut them straight in the dish, but I didn't want to scratch mine.  

Now.  These are excellent.   The graham kind of gives that fake peanut butter texture you get in a peanut butter cup - know what I mean?  Kind of grainy in a good way.  

Not to mention, of course, that these are quick, easy, and who the heck doesn't like chocolate and peanut butter?  No one, that's who.