I usually try to follow the directions the first time I make something. But I threw that out the window with Trader Joe’s No Bake Nut Butter Bar Mix ($3.49 per box). It’s already a Choose Your Own Adventure where you can pick your favorite nut butter and either maple syrup or honey as the sweetener. But me being me, I couldn’t leave well enough alone.
For mine, I went with mostly peanut butter and a little tahini (roughly 3/4 PB, 1/4 tahini) and honey. I also added in two chopped Hershey bars…and then drizzled it with dark chocolate. Check it out in the video below.
The box warns you that the mix is going to be pretty thick and although I started out mixing it with a spatula, I ended up getting in there with my hands to get everything thoroughly mixed.
It’s pretty crumbly, so grab a handful in your hand and press it to make sure everything is holding together. Press it into the prepared pan FIRMLY, like really firmly, because it’s only going in the freezer.
I used slightly less than 1/2 c. honey only because it was all I could scrape out of the jar, but try to use the full amount. This mix really needs it all to stick together. Mine still ended up a little crumbly when I sliced them.
Overall, I like them! It’s an easy treat that doesn’t require you to turn on the oven. Perfect as we slide into the dog days of summer.
With the peanut butter and chocolate, they totally remind me of this dessert thing we had with school lunch when I was growing up. I think it was called peanut butter crunch, but they were sort of meant to be like peanut butter cups. A layer of peanut butter with some crunchy bits (probably rice krispies) topped with a layer of chocolate. It was one of the only good things about school lunch in those days.
I’m not a huge fan of almond butter, but I think Trader Joe’s Nut Butter bar mix would be great with it and maple syrup. Let me know what combos you try and end up liking!
Check out some of my other recent We Tried’s from Trader Joe’s:
Ketchup Flavored Spud Crunchies