Homemade Kit Kat Bars
This no-bake dessert recipe for Homemade Kit Kat Bars is a family favorite! Layers of crackers, graham crackers, chocolate and peanut butter.
AN EASY LAYERED NO-BAKE DESSERT!
These types of bars were so popular at get-togethers when I was younger. Now, I will go on record to say these are not an exact replica of Kit Kat Bars but the concept is the same. You’ve got crunchy layers with a chocolate coating. That is really the similarity. This recipe for Homemade Kit Kat Bars uses crackers instead of a thin wafer and it’s got peanut butter instead of just all chocolate. But y’all get what I’m saying with this. We love these little bars and one pan will feed a crowd. They are a little crunchy, a little chocolate & peanut butter-y and all good!
TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE KIT KAT BARS:
- You can use regular saltine crackers for this recipe but I think the club crackers hold up a little better.
- Dark, milk or even white chocolate can be used instead of the semi-sweet chocolate.
- Give these plenty of time to cool before slicing or they won’t slice up well for you. I sliced them up pretty large for these photos but you really can slice them much smaller since they are a little rich.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- club crackers
- salted butter
- light brown sugar
- sugar
- milk
- graham cracker crumbs
- creamy peanut butter
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KIT KAT BARS:
Line an un-greased 9×13-inch baking dish with a layer of club crackers.
In a large saucepan, over low to medium heat, melt butter and both sugars. Then add graham cracker crumbs and milk. Allow mixture to all gently melt and stir constantly until it is all combined well.
Remove from heat and spread half the butter mixture evenly over crackers.
Do your best to spread it out evenly. Top with another layer of crackers. Then spread the other half of the butter mixture on top. Then a final layer of crackers on top of that.
In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter and chocolate chips. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until completely melted and blended.
Spread evenly over top layer of crackers.
Cover with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for an hour or two. You want that top chocolate layer to really cool down and firm up.
Once it is completely cooled, slice into small squares. You should be able to get about 2 1/2 dozen from this pan.
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Originally published: September 2012
Updated photos & republished: May 2020
Homemade Kit Kat Bars
Ingredients
- 72 club crackers
- 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup milk
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an ungreased 9×13-inch baking dish with layer of club crackers
- In a large saucepan, over low to medium heat, melt butter and both sugars gently – while stirring.
- Stir in graham cracker crumbs and milk. Stir well until all is melted and combined (do not allow mixture to boil.)
- Remove from heat and carefully spread half the butter mixture evenly over crackers. Spread it out as evenly as possible.
- Layer with another layer of crackers.
- Then spread the other half of the butter mixture on top.
- Then a final layer of crackers on top of that.
- In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter and chocolate chips. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until completely melted and blended.
- Spread evenly over top layer of crackers.
- Cover with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for an hour or two. You want that top chocolate layer to really cool down and firm up.
- Once it is completely cooled, slice into small squares.
Video
Notes
- Crunchy peanut butter can be used.
- These bars are pretty rich so I would suggest cutting them up into smaller squares (about 24).
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
can’t wait to try it!
Hello! Can the peanut butter be omitted?
This needs time peanut butter to set up properly. I’ve never tried to make it without it
can chocolate bars be substituted for chips?
I haven’t tried to to be honest, I am not sure if they set up exactly the same.
Took these to work, they were the first treats gone! So good!!
Let me start by saying these cookies are the bomb. My sister gave me the recipe. I am a avid cookie baker and have never heard of these. They are delicious and I will definitely be making them again and again. I can see the correlation between the crackers and calling them Kit Kat’s but maybe I’m mistaken or maybe in another area Kit Kat’s have peanut butter in them but where I live Kit Kat bars do not have peanut butter in them. Nonetheless, they are delicious thank you for the recipe.
I’ve made these before, and are really good. It’s been a while, and I wanted Keebler or Honey Maid CRUMBS. Can’t find anywhere thanks to this inflation/environment we are suffering through. I didn’t want to use an off brand, found Food Club crumbs…..Just ended up buying Honey Maid whole crackers, will use my 3 cup food chopper. Seemed like they had all the same ingredients as the Food Club crumbs did–only were high fructose corn syrup free.
can these kit kat bars be frozen?
Delicious and very easy to make. Will definitely keep this recipe as a go to – especially for the holidays.
Thank you so much Maureen Ann! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
Always a top desert at all my get togethers.
Recommend you add 1 cup of butterscotch chips to melt along with the peanut butter and semi sweet chocolate chips.this makes the taste extra yummy
These were fantastic!!! Even better a day or two later!! My kids thought they should be named Homemade Twix bars!! I will make again in a heart beat… Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!
What an awesome looking dessert. Over the years I have had recipes with variations of this but never this one. Like so many of your recipes, I added it to my list to make. My husband loves your Copycat Shoneys Strawberry Pie and I have made it the past 3 Saturdays. Getting made again tomorrow too! Thanks
My husband just tried them and I quote “Ohmmmm! MMMMMMM!!!” (and a thumb’s up while he was saying this). I think it translates to “Oh my God, these are awesome!” He said they tasted “legit”. The only thing I would change is the pan I used. I had the glass 9 x 13 like you used in the demo so used it but my pan sides are not straight up and down but “sloped”. Therefore, with each layer, there is more space btwn the crackers and the edge of the pan. I think next time I will use one of my metal 9×13 pans lined with non-stick foil; it has straighter sides and (fingers crossed) I can lift it out, peel down the foil and cut. These cut like a dream, by the way. I left mine out of the fridge for about 10 minutes so that the chocolate layer was easier to get the knife through without cracking.
To the fellow Canucks out there who commented on the lack of Club crackers in Canada (say that 3 times fast!), you can get them but they are not that readily available. I used Toppables instead – they are a carbon copy of the Club.
Thanks Brandie – what a great recipes. I see myself making this again for a church bake sale….if that ever happens again. This COVID thing sucks hard, man.
Delicious, but didn’t get the KitKat flavor. Tasted very much like a Girl Scout Tagalong.
Do these freeze okay?
Yes, these should freeze well.
Can you use anything else besides the peanut butter? I am allergic to peanuts.
Made two batches of these and they turned out super yummy! For one batch I followed the exact recipe, but for the second, I mixed some of the graham cracker crumbs with the sugar and some butter before mixing everything else together and it ended up getting super carmelized, so I would reccomend doing that if you’re looking for a little something extra! Also added some vanilla and hazelnut extract to the caramel.
Thank you for the recipe! I love them and keep them in the freezer so I dont eat them all at once. I was alitlle confused by your nutrition information. Is 276 calories for one? Thank you for letting me know
My son and I made this tonight. And despite us forgetting to put milk in with the butter and sugars, still turned out delicious. Thinking perhaps bottom would have covered if would have used the milk.?.
Everyone loved them….but I would change the name to "Homemade Nutty Butty Bars". My (& my family's) opinion anyway.
Anyway, keep your recipes coming…you make me look awesome at dinnertime.
My family loves peanut butter so we make the center layer out of peanut butter and club cracker "sandwiches"
My son is allergic to peanuts and KIT KAT is his choice candy bar, love the idea of making it home made. I checked the ingredient from Nestle's website and it does not contain peanuts. Should I substitute sunflower seed butter for the second layer? Is it to give the snack a more depth of flavor…
I am in Canada,and I don't recall ever seeing "club crackers".Would they be similar to soda crackers,or saltines?
Brandie,
I love these bars, and made them many years ago, but lost the recipe. thanks for sharing this recipe. I can't t wait to make these.
Thank you Becky!
My son is allergic to peanut butter so I would have to omit that. Do I need to change any other ingredients and their amount s due to this?
Thanks,
Mary
spezzab2be@aol.com
Hi Mary! I don't think you should have to change anything. Having said that, I haven't made this without the peanut butter. I would love to know how it turns out for you!
I live in Canada and we don't have Club crackers, could you suggest another type? If not I may have to make a trip to the states!
You could use regular saltine crackers for this. The club crackers are just a bit sturdier and more butter-y than the standard saltine cracker. 🙂
Walmart sells kellogs club crackers.
Oh me, oh my! It's not a wonder that these get gobbled up at gatherings. I could gobble them all up all by my lonesome!
I made these this morning! So delish – and they actually taste like a Kit-Kat … which really is pretty much the best thing that has ever happened to me. 🙂
A little question: My graham cracker part didn't really solidify. I just tried one (they've been in the fridge for 8 hours or so). Anyone else have that issue?
Thanks for the recipe!!!
Bec
These looked so good and easy that I couldn't wait to try the recipe. I made them keeping a vegan friend in mind. I substituted in coconut milk, margarine(she is willing to eat margarine) and carob chips. The recipe turned out great! Can hardly wait for her to try them, yum! I love your site, thanks for sharing 🙂
Awesome recipe, my kids loved it! Very easy to make, thanks for sharing oh and p.s. I LOVE kit kats, pretty darn close to the sensation of one!
Great recipe and cute pix of your child!
Made these this morning and they are fabulous! VERY easy and the taste is scrumptious. I had to refrigerate mine for 4 solid hours before the top chocolate layer was firm enough — but they were well worth the wait. Thx for sharing.
These are just wonderful!
What a fun recipe to make with kids!!! It looks delicious, and I bet every bite brought back fun memories:-) I have to share this with my mom, she is going to love it! 🙂 Take care, Terra
The Kit Kat Bars look delicious. Can't wait to try them. My grandchildren are here and one of my grandsons just told me this week that Kit Kats are his favorite, Blessings,Jo-Ann
Thanks, Brandie! Another great recipe! And thanks for adding a picture to the printable recipe.
This made my mouth water! Definitely going on the "To Try" list.
Made these exactly to the recipe. I wouldn’t change a thing! Everyone loved them!
Mr. Picky-eater's favorite candy is Kit-Kat so these will be a home run at this house! Can't wait to make them!! Thank you for the recipe.
This version, minus the cracker part, reminds me of a good ol' Nutty Buddy Bar. Yum!
Yummy!
Yummmmy!!!!
My grandma used to make these all the time when I was little, but with Saltines. SOOOOO good! Now I've got me a hankerin for these bars and her bean sprout casserole! <3 you Grandma!
They look like fun to make, for sure, but the niceest part is having a cute little baker's helper (: Might have to have my minions help me make these…
Oh Honey Child! I'm wiping the drool off my chin and keyboard too! These look fabulously perfect. I've eaten them at parties and think I've only made them 2 times. Oh so delicious! Thanks for the reminder of this awesome treat.
How good do these look!?! I've always loved KitKat, but I've never seen homemade ones!! What a delicious idea with a cold glass of milk. It looks like you have a good helper there, too! 🙂
Blessings,
Leslie