Easy No-Bake Layered Mint Chocolate Bars
Growing up is wild because there are so many things your opinion changes on, one of which being your food preferences. Now, if you ever told kid Hannah that she would come to love some mint chocolate treats (not all but some), she would have looked you dead in the eye and said “No, I won’t.” Jokes on your kid.
I honestly had a slow progression into liking mint chocolate. The first time I realized there was something to it was when a coworker put thin mint cookies in the freezer. Now that was magic. Then there was the occasional York peppermint patty or Andes mint if the chocolate craving struck and that was what was available. But then, my real turning point was during some corporate Christmas time, someone gave me a Lindt white chocolate peppermint ball, you know the kind with the creamy center, and WOW.
When done right – like the mint chocolate chip ice cream at Old John’s Diner in the Upper West Side of NYC – mint chocolate has a place with my tastebuds, though never ever give me something artificially green. My brain will never accept that, that tastes right.
NO-BAKE MINT CHOCOLATE BARS
As I’m writing this, we’re currently in the early stages of Girl Scout cookie season. You know, the incredibly overpriced boxed cookies that you can’t not buy a box from the girls and their parents who are spending their Saturday morning’s sitting outside a grocery store selling. I was a Brownie for a season or two (honestly I can’t remember cause it was slightly off-brand for even kid Hannah), so I know the struggle of sitting in the cold hoping to make eye contact for a sale.
Anyway, I love a no-bake dessert (who doesn’t), plus bars are just fun (dessert cut into bars that is), and I wanted to try a crack at something that would give Thin Mint vibes but to be completely honest, way better and way less expensive.
These No-Bake Mint Chocolate Bars have an Oreo cookie base (I know, already yum), a minty cream cheese center, and a semi-sweet chocolate topping. Cut into bars or squares, these are made up of layers of absolute mint chocolate goodness in every bite. Go ahead and make a patch and award it to yourself, you’ll deserve it once you make these delicious babies.
Can I add more peppermint extract? Mix and taste the cream cheese filling as detailed below before adding more peppermint extract. A little goes a long way on that front. If you’d still like more, start with ¼ tsp, mix, and taste.
INGREDIENTS
- Oreos: Make the most delicious base layer for these bars
- Powdered Sugar: Brings a little sweetness to the base and the cream cheese filling
- Unsalted Butter: Used across all three layers to bind, loosen, and add flavor
- Salt: Makes the other flavors pop while offering balance
- Cream Cheese: Gives the perfect tang and creaminess to that minty center layer
- Peppermint Extract: A little goes a long way and smells (+tastes) so good
- Milk: Helps to lightly loosen the middle layer, making sure everything is fully combined
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The perfect balance of sweet but rich chocolate flavors for the top layer of these bars
- Heavy Whipped Cream: Helps to thin the chocolate topping while also creating a smoother texture when you bite into the bar
I only have an 8”x8” pan, will that work? Yep! Your bars will be a little thicker but will set and taste just the same!
HOW TO MAKE NO-BAKE MINT CHOCOLATE BARS
Start by greasing your square baking pan and lining one side with parchment paper. I like to tear my parchment a little longer so it leaves a handle on either side of the pan to make lifting the bars out easy, once they are ready.
For your base layer, grab a bowl and stir together your Oreo crumbs and powdered sugar. Pour in your melted butter and mix to combine. Transfer your Oreo mixture to your lined baking pan and press into it to form an even layer. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press further, to make sure your crust is tightly compact inside the base of the pan. Pop it in the fridge to set while you make your creamy mint layer.
For the mint filling, beat together your softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy in a large bowl. Sift in the powdered sugar, beat, and then add in your peppermint extract and milk, mixing until combined. Pour your mint filling over your chilled Oreo crust and spread with a spatula into an even layer, then place back into the fridge for at least an hour.
Next, make your chocolate topping. Once your filling has chilled, add your semi-sweet chocolate and butter to a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in the microwave. Heat it in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and fully melted. Add your heavy cream to the melted chocolate mixture and quickly stir together until combined. Pour your melted chocolate over the chilled mint filling, carefully spreading it into an even layer, and place back into the fridge for another 2 hours, or until the chocolate topping is firm and set.
Once set, use your parchment paper handles to lift the soon-to-be bars out of the pan and slice with a kitchen knife. At this point, you can cut into squares or bars and enjoy!
3 reasons you’ll love these bars
TIPS & VARIATIONS
- Be sure to really press your Oreo layer into the base of your pan. You want it to be really compact so it will hold when you lift the bars out. I use a measuring cup or the bottom of a glass to really press it in
- Your cream cheese layer will be soft, even after its first round in the fridge, so be careful when you spread your chocolate layer on top, that you don’t swirl it in
- If you want that minty green look for your bars, you’re welcome to add in a few drops of green food dye!
- Your chocolate layer will set however you spread it, so in addition to making it a smooth, even layer, you’re welcome to use your spatula to make fun designs in the chocolate before popping into the fridge
MAKING AHEAD & STORING
These bars will keep in the fridge for up to 4-7 days when placed in an airtight container. They also freeze incredibly well! You can eat them frozen (though the chocolate layers will be a bit hard to crack through) or place them in the fridge to thaw slightly before eating!
MORE MINT RECIPES
For more mint chocolate vibes, try my Mint Chocolate Tiramisu! It’s a single-serve recipe all for you! If the summertime peaches are ripe, this Minty Peach Pavlova may just be my favorite pavlova yet.
Equipment
- 9×9-inch Baking Pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Spatulas
- Microwave-Safe Bowls
- Parchment Paper
- Hand Mixer
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups crushed Oreos approx 20 cookies
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ tsp salt
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ¼ tsp peppermint extract
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Grease and line a 9×9-inch with parchment paper. I like to tear my parchment a little longer so it leaves a handle on either side of the pan to make lifting the bars out easy, once they are ready
- In a bowl, stir together your Oreo crumbs and powdered sugar. Pour in your melted butter and mix to combine. Press into your lined baking pan to form an even layer, then use the bottom of a measuring cup to press further, to tightly compact your crust together.
- Place your crust in the fridge to set while you prepare your mint layer
- For the mint filling, add your softened cream cheese and butter to a large bowl and use a mixer to beat until smooth and creamy. Sift in the powdered sugar, beat, and then add in your peppermint extract and milk, mixing until combined.
- Pour your mint filling over your chilled crust and spread with a spatula into an even layer. Place back in the fridge for at least an hour
- Once your filling has chilled, make your chocolate topping by adding your semi-sweet chocolate and butter to a microwave-safe bowl and melting in the microwave. Heat in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and fully melted. Pour your heavy cream into the melted chocolate mixture and quickly stir together until combined
- Pour your melted chocolate over the chilled mint filling, carefully spreading it into an even layer, and place back into the fridge for another 2 hours, or until the chocolate topping is firm and set
- Once set, use your parchment paper handles to lift the soon-to-be bars out of the pan and slice with a kitchen knife. Cut into bars or squares and enjoy!
Adored these! They were so good! A wonderfully balanced peppermint cream. I have tried many types of chocolate mint deserts and barks and these are an absolute favorite.
So happy to hear that! Glad these are a new favorite for you