No Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars
Rebecca Blumer
These gorgeous three-layer bars deliver the ultimate chocolate and peanut butter combination, featuring a crunchy Oreo crust, a velvety mousse-like peanut butter filling, and a glossy milk chocolate ganache topped with salty roasted peanuts.
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Chilling Time 5 hours hrs
Total Time 5 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Servings 12 servings
Calories 929 kcal
Crust
- 2 cups crushed Oreo Cookies, about 20 cookies, crushed (216 g)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1/2 stick / 57 g
Cheesecake
- 3 packages cream cheese, room temperature 8 ounces each
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 g)
- 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter (322.5 g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sour cream (57.5 g)
- 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream, cold (297.5 g)
- 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (94 g)
Ganache
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (119 g)
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips (182 g)
Topping
- 2 cups salted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped (292 g)
Crust
Stir the crushed Oreo Cookies with the melted butter in a small bowl until the crumbs are evenly moistened, then press the mixture firmly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. The crust should look level, dark, and tightly packed with no loose crumb pockets.
Cheesecake
Beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until completely smooth, or use a handheld mixer if needed. The mixture should lose all lumps and look thick, pale, and creamy.
Mix in the creamy peanut butter, vanilla extract, and sour cream, scraping the bowl as needed, until the filling base is fully blended. The texture should be dense but silky, with an even peanut butter color throughout.
Pour the cold heavy whipping cream into a separate bowl and begin whipping with a handheld mixer on low speed, then slowly increase to medium speed. It will move from loose bubbles to a thicker, softly billowy texture as air builds.
Fold the whipped cream gently into the peanut butter mixture until no white streaks remain. The finished filling should stay airy and mousse-like rather than flat or runny.
Spread the filling evenly over the prepared crust and refrigerate the pan for at least 5 hours. The surface should look smooth and hold its shape when the filling is fully chilled.
Ganache
Heat the heavy whipping cream in a microwave-safe bowl for 45 seconds to 1 minute, just until hot. The cream should be steaming but not scorched or boiling over the edges.
Add the milk chocolate chips to the hot cream, let them sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until the ganache is glossy and smooth, about 1 minute. The finished ganache should look shiny and pourable with no unmelted bits.
Pour the ganache over the chilled cheesecake layer, scatter the chopped peanuts on top, and let the topping set for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting and serving. The ganache should look settled and slightly firm so it doesn't drag across the filling when sliced.
Parchment lining: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This allows you to lift the entire slab of set cheesecake bars out of the pan for clean, easy slicing.
Cream cheese tip: Always use room temperature, full-fat block cream cheese to avoid a lumpy texture. The structure of block cream cheese helps the bars set and hold sharp edges without gelatin.
Peanut butter choice: Use standard commercial creamy peanut butter. Natural style peanut butters tend to separate and will make your filling greasy, soft, or oily.
Slicing trick: For pristine slices, use a long, sharp knife. Dip the blade in hot water and wipe it completely dry before making each downward slice. Wipe and clean the knife between every single cut.
Storage: Keep the bars tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long-term prep, freeze sliced bars on a baking sheet until firm, then wrap tightly and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.
Keyword No Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars, no-bake dessert, Oreo cookie crust, Peanut Butter Bars