Keto Peanut Butter Bars Recipe - 3 Net Carbs • Low Carb with Jennifer (2024)

These keto peanut butter bars are the perfect low carb treat for any peanut butter lover. The soft cookie layer topped with a creamy peanut butter icing and chopped peanuts is a combination that is hard to resist.

Keto Peanut Butter Bars

Whenever I want a keto treat, it has to be either peanut butter or chocolate. I would have to say that my absolute favorite keto chocolate treat would have to be my Chocolate Mug Cake which also has a peanut butter version. This recipe for keto peanut butter bars really satisfies my peanut butter sweet tooth with no added sugar, as long as you use a sugar free peanut butter.

One of my favorite treats used to be Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (and I still have them on occassion). The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is such a classic. That's why I made my recipe for no bake Keto Peanut Butter Cups a few years back. But when you don't have time for all that layer making, you can bake this keto peanut butter bars recipe.

I really think this peanut butter bar recipe just has that something special. Maybe it's the salty sweet combo that I love so much? Just like in my Bacon Chocolate Bark (don't knock it till you try it!). I also like to add sugar-free chocolate chips on top sometimes to give me that peanut butter cup flavor. So good!

What you need

This easy keto peanut butter bars recipe uses simple ingredients, but I provideswap optionsincase you want to make them dairy free or need nut free. The full recipe card with exact measurements is toward the bottom of the page.

Sugar free natural peanut butter: In order to make this keto diet friendly, you really need to use a peanut butter with no added sugar. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Most grocery stores now have their own low cost version. Substitute: you can try almond butter or cashew butter.

Brown sugar granulated sweetener and powdered sweetener: The base of the bars use the brown sugar sweetener, and the icing uses the powdered sweetener. The one I use is an erythritol and monk fruit blend that is a 1 for 1 substitute for sugar.

Substitute: If you're in a pinch, you could use the powdered for both the cookie layer and icing layer, but not the other way around. You really need powdered for the icing so it isn't gritty.

Butter: Unsalted butter or salted will work. Substitute: If you want your peanut butter bars to be dairy free, you could try ghee or coconut oil.

Almond flour: I always suggest using a finely ground almond flour for all keto desserts. Coconut flour will not work for this recipe but you can try sunflower seed flour.

The rest of the ingredients needed are eggs, vanilla, baking powder, salt, and roasted peanuts (make sure they do not have any added sugar!)

How to make the best keto peanut Butter bars

1. Prep the pan and pre-heat the oven: Prep your 9x9 baking pan with cooking spray or rub it down with butter, then make a parchment paper sling (not wax paper). This is the best way to guarantee your bars will come out of the pan in one piece.

2. Make the peanut butter cookie layer: Melt the peanut butter and butter together in a bowl, then stir in the brown sweetener, egg and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients. The keto bars batter will be thick.

3. Bake: Spread the peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan with a rubber spatula. Smooth to make an even layer. Place into already preheated oven and bake until golden brown.

4. Prepare the icing and then pour over the cookie layer. Top with chopped peanuts, sea salt, or chocolate chips. Refrigerate so the creamy peanut butter layer can firm up.

5. Cut the bars after you refrigerate them and after you pull them out of the pan with the handy sling. Otherwise it could be quite difficult to pull them out of the pan in one piece!

Storage and serving

This recipe make 16 servings. You can store them in an airtight container separated with parchment paper so they don't stick together, but I didn't bother to do that and it wasn't a problem.

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