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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna

Who says lasagna has to be savory? This No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna turns a dinnertime classic into one downright irresistible dessert. Layers of chocolate graham crackers stand in for the “noodles,” while a rich and creamy peanut butter cheesecake filling takes the place of the cheese. Plenty of chopped Reese’s cups are tucked between the layers, giving you that beloved chocolate and peanut butter combination in every bite. To finish, it’s topped with a drizzle of silky chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of salted peanuts for just the right amount of crunch. Best of all, there’s no baking required, making this an easy make-ahead dessert for potlucks, family gatherings, holidays or anytime your sweet tooth comes calling.

chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-lasagna-recipe

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna Recipe

This No Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna is a winner all the way around, with the added bonus of being incredibly simple to prepare. Since we typically think of lasagna as a hearty, savory dish, turning it into a layered chocolate and peanut butter dessert makes it all the more fun to serve. And really, you can’t go wrong with the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter. No oven is a plus.

This easy no-bake dessert is right at home on the table for birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings, potlucks, family reunions and summertime cookouts. It’s also a great choice when you need a make-ahead dessert that can chill in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve. With layers of creamy peanut butter filling, chocolate graham crackers and plenty of Reese’s cups, it’s the kind of crowd-pleasing sweet treat everyone will be happy to see coming.

Key ingredients to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Lasagna: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quantities.)

  • Graham Crackers – Chocolate graham crackers form the chocolate layer. You could also use nutter butter cookies or oreo cookies, in a pinch.
  • Reese’s Cups – Peanut butter cups for texture and richness.
  • Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter gives this dessert its signature flavor.
  • Cream Cheese – Softened cream cheese for the peanut butter cheesecake layer.
  • Sugar – Powdered sugar to sweetened the cheesecake layer.
  • Chocolate Chips – Melted milk chocolate chips and heavy cream for the chocolate drizzle.
  • Peanuts – Chopped salted peanuts for crunch.
  • Flavoring – Vanilla extract balances the taste.
  • Whipped Cream – Store-bought whipped topping (i.e. Cool Whip or similar).
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How to Make the Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna Recipe

  • Melt Chocolate – Melt the chocolate chips and heavy cream together in the microwave until smooth. Set aside to cool while you make the filling.
  • Make the Peanut Butter Layer – Whip together cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, 1 cup heavy cream and vanilla for 2-3 minutes or until smooth.
  • Whipped Cream – Whip two tubs of Cool Whip (whipped topping) into the peanut butter mixture ONE at a time. You can fold this in by hand using a large spatula.
  • Assemble Lasagna – Arrange one single layer of graham crackers on bottom of baking dish. Spread with 1/3 of the peanut butter mixture. Sprinkle filling with 1/3 chopped peanut butter cups and 1/3 chopped peanuts. Repeat layers.
  • Frost the Top – Frost the top with the remaining whipped topping.
  • Garnish – Sprinkle the top with chopped peanut butter cups and peanuts. Drizzle with melted chocolate.
  • Refrigerate – Chill in the fridge covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil until serving.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Lasagna

  • Electric mixer. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
  • 13×9-inch lasagna pan, cake pan or dish. Deeper works best.
  • Large bowl, small bowl.
  • Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
  • Nut chopper or sharp knife and cutting board.
  • Rubber spatula.
  • Double boiler. If you prefer, you can melt the chocolate chips to make the chocolate drizzle in a double boiler instead of melting chocolate in the microwave.
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Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

  • Graham Crackers – You can use classic graham crackers, chocolate wafer cookies, Oreos or nutter butters for the noodle layer for peanut butter lasagna.
  • Chocolate Chips – You could use milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips for the chocolate ganache.
  • Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter works best for the cream cheese layer. You could use crunchy peanut butter if that’s your preference, but it’s not necessary. The chopped peanuts will add texture and a slight crunch to the filling ingredients. The best brand of peanut butter to use is one that you already enjoy.
  • Peanut Butter Chips – You could add melted peanut butter chips to the topping along with the chocolate sauce for the topping.
  • Adjust Amounts – Would you like to add more chocolate drizzle or more Reese’s cups? Go for it!
  • Whipped Cream – For this dessert, Cool Whip or a similar private label brand of frozen whipped topping will work best for the filling. While I love homemade whipped cream, it’s not as stable as whipped topping. It just doesn’t work the best in this instance.
  • Be Patient – When whipping the ingredients for the peanut butter filling, it’s important to whip fully until the cream cheese is completely smooth. It can take more than a couple of minutes depending on how soft the cream cheese is. 
  • Reese’s Mini Pieces – You could garnish the top using reese’s mini pieces. 
  • Special Note – The chocolate graham crackers will naturally soften as the ingredients in the dessert chill. This is a normal occurrence, much like when making an eclair cake and not an indication that anything went wrong.

Storage and Leftovers

  • Make-Ahead Tip – You can fully assemble this dessert one day in advance.
  • Storage – You can store Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer – Freeze chocolate lasagna leftovers for up to 1 month, thaw in the fridge and enjoy.
recipe-for-chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-lasagna

More Easy Dessert Recipes to Make

Desserts made in a 13×9-inch pan are ideal for taking to potlucks, picnics or holiday parties. More sheet pan desserts you may also like to try:

best-chocolate-crunch-lasagna-recipe

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5 from 9 votes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna

This No Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna features layers of chocolate graham crackers, creamy peanut butter filling and Reese’s cups topped with chocolate ganache.
Prep Time25 minutes
Chill Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 25 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: chocolate-peanut-butter-cup-lasagna, peanut butter lasagna
Servings: 16 pieces
Calories: 337kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2 8 oz softened cream cheese (16 oz total)
  • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 8 oz frozen whipped topping thawed and divided
  • 1 14 oz box chocolate graham crackers
  • 1 12 oz bag miniature peanut butter cups unwrapped and roughly chopped
  • 3/4 cup salted peanuts roughly chopped

Instructions

  • Chocolate: In a small bowl melt the chocolate chips and 1/3 cup heavy cream together in the microwave until smooth. Melt in 30 second increments stopping to stir periodically. Set aside to cool while you make the filling.
  • Peanut Butter Filling: In a medium-size mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to whip together cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, 1 cup heavy cream and vanilla for 2-3 minutes or until smooth. Whip in (2) containers of whipped topping ONE at a time.
  • Assemble: Arrange one single layer of graham crackers in a 13×9 inch deep baking dish. Spread with 1/3 of the peanut butter filling.
  • Sprinkle filling with 1/3 chopped peanut butter cups and 1/3 chopped peanuts.
  • Gently press the next layer of graham crackers on top and repeat filling, peanut butter cups, peanuts. Finish with a third layer of graham crackers ending with the final 1/3 of the peanut butter filling.
  • Frost the top with the remaining 8 oz whipped topping. Garnish the top with final 1/3 of peanut butter cups and peanuts. Drizzle with warm chocolate.
  • Chill for at least 4-6 hours before cutting. Store chilled.

Notes

  • Graham Crackers – You can use classic graham crackers, chocolate wafer cookies, Oreos or nutter butters for the noodle layer for peanut butter lasagna.
  • Chocolate Chips – You could use milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips for the chocolate ganache.
  • Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter works best for the cream cheese layer. You could use crunchy peanut butter if that’s your preference, but it’s not necessary. The chopped peanuts will add texture and a slight crunch to the filling ingredients. The best brand of peanut butter to use is one that you already enjoy.
  • Peanut Butter Chips – You could add melted peanut butter chips to the topping along with the chocolate sauce for the topping.
  • Adjust Amounts – Would you like to add more chocolate drizzle or more Reese’s cups? Go for it!
  • Whipped Cream – For this dessert, Cool Whip or a similar private label brand of frozen whipped topping will work best for the filling. While I love homemade whipped cream, it’s not as stable as whipped topping. It just doesn’t work the best in this instance.
  • Be Patient – When whipping the ingredients for the peanut butter filling, it’s important to whip fully until the cream cheese is completely smooth. It can take more than a couple of minutes depending on how soft the cream cheese is. 
  • Reese’s Mini Pieces – You could garnish the top for fall using reese’s mini pieces. 
  • Special Note – The chocolate graham crackers will naturally soften as the ingredients chill. This is a normal occurrence, much like when making an eclair cake and not an indication that anything went wrong.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 315IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

117 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Hi! Just wanted to share that I couldn’t find chocolate graham crackers either, so I used divided Oreos instead. It was harder to spread the filling, but it came out AMAZING!

    Delicious and decadent recipe for sure! Perfect for the holidays!

    1. I had the same dilemma but I ended up using the Goya chocolate wafers couldn’t taste the difference

  2. 5 stars
    I made this last night for my Bunko group. It was a huge hit! Everyone wanted a piece to take home, it’s definitely a keeper! How can you go wrong with peanut butter, chocolate, cool whip, nuts and peanut butter cups???
    *note – I couldn’t find chocolate graham crackers at any store near me, so I substituted with regular graham crackers, and it still turned out great!

  3. 5 stars
    This was delicious! I made a half batch recipe and had to use homemade whipped cream (I did not feel like running to the store.) I even added a few leftover candies from Halloween to get rid of them. It has a nice light texture and a wonderful flavor, not overpowering in any area. I will make this again, for sure!! Family loved it!

  4. 5 stars
    I made this at the mom and pop restaurant I bake and cook at and it is gone the same day I can’t make it fast enough..I highly recommend it is very rich but so satisfying. It will definitely be a regular dessert in my bake case!!

  5. How much heavy cream goes with the chocolate chips to make the ganach? 1cup or 1/3 cup? I’m guessing the 1\3 cup.

  6. This looks really good, and super easy to make. My question is, the recipe states (3) 8oz whipped topping, but the directions say: beat 2 containers, whip 2 containers, and 1 container for the topping. That is (5) containers not (3). Or, should I divide the (3) 8oz containers into (5) portions.

  7. I made this for my daughter’s birthday, everyone raved about it. My daughter asked if I would make this every year for her birthday!!I made it just as was written , no tweaking, and it was perfect. Thank you so much for sharing.

  8. I made this for our Super Bowl party and it was a major hit. Brought the rest to work and it got eaten up quickly! Thanks for this great recipe, it’s a keeper for sure.

  9. Can I use regular graham crackers instead of the chocolate ones? I’m having a hard time finding chocolate. I can find chocolate animal crackers though….. will those work?

    1. The cream cheese stabilizes the filling so, it’s an intricate part of this dish. I’m not sure there is a substitute.

  10. Can i make this another way since i am allergic to peanutbutter do u have a way i can do it with milky ways or 3 musketeers

    1. I’ve never frozen this Debbi but, in general desserts like this will freeze well. If you try it, let me know how it goes.

  11. I made this for Christmas Eve, and everyone went crazy over it! My husbands family all asked me for the recipe! I will definitely be making this again.

5 from 9 votes

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