No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are my ALL time favorite recipe! This dessert brings back so many memories for me. I know, how does a dessert bring back memories?
The first memory and most important is my Grandma, she made this recipe for us every Christmas! There were a few staples that we had to have every year from Grandma; Peanut Butter bars a.k.a Hollywood squares, cheesecake, jello with cream cheese, and orange glaze Pillsbury biscuits.
The second memory is my school day lunches. My school system made and served this all-time recipe once every week. It was the favorite dessert of all the kids. If you would ask anyone from Cuyahoga Falls what the favorite dessert was and they all would say Hollywood Squares.
No Bake- Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 cups peanut butter
- 2 1/2 cups powered sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup graham crackers(crumbs)
- 1 bag chocolate chip morsels
Instructions
Beat all ingredients until well blended(except chocolate chips)
Press in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Melt 1 bag chocolate chip morsels and spread over peanut butter layer.
Chill, cut into squares.
I love ALL things peanut butter, add a little chocolate and I am in heaven. I don’t know who is a bigger fan of Hollywood Squares, me or my sister? I make my sister her own entire batch of Hollywood Squares for Christmas.
What about you, what is that one dessert that you can’t live without?
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Joanna Dickert says
Went to Central Cambria, Cambria county in south central Pennsylvania, love them and we too called them Hollywood Squares!!!
Designed Decor says
Hi Joanna,
We called them Hollywood Squares as well!
John says
I graduated CFHS in 84 but remember these from elementary school worked in the cafeteria just to get extra of these … so good!
Designed Decor says
Hi John, I was a 1986 graduate! These are the best and my class makes them when we have reunions, oh the memories of Hollywood squares. If I remember correctly they were served once a week on Fridays.
Theresa Hoffman says
My husband went to Green, Ohio schools and had these in the cafeteria. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and went to Catholic school and remember these at bake sales. Now we have an 8 year old who really wants to try Hollywood squares after we talked about them and I found your blog through Pinterest! Thank you for posting! We are excited for these😃
Designed Decor says
Hi Theresa, They are still my all-time favorite! It is funny that only our area called them Hollywood squares and I am not even sure why! I know your son will love them!
Erica says
Thank you! These were better than I remembered! We had them in Hudson schools in the early 1990’s but I haven’t seen them anywhere since. I wasn’t sure if I remembered the name correctly and my parents, who are not Ohioans, had no idea what they were. These days I live in a part of the world where graham crackers are uncommon and substituted crumbled butter cookies, which also turned out well.
Designed Decor says
Erica, I love hearing the stories of others who had these in school in Northeast Ohio. I am so glad you found a great substitute for the graham crackers.
Shari says
Lincoln elementary , Roberts jr.High and then Cuyahoga Falls
Class 82
Love love love
The squares ! Make them as often as possible.
So Yummy
Designed Decor says
Hi Shari, That is so cool! I was Price, Sill, CF class of 86.
Mona says
I just made these last night for a girls weekend! I graduated CFHS in1987 and have the recipe for Hollywood Squares from my friend’s mom who worked in the cafeteria. It is my most cherished recipe. I remember saving up my dimes (they were 10 cents each at Lincoln Elementary!) However, the recipe I have does not include graham crackers…??? Also, the recipe calls for melting butter with the chocolate chips for the topping!
So glad to here so many people remember Hollywood Squares! My family loves them! Thanks for posting the recipe!
Designed Decor says
It is a staple for those of us who grew up with them. I am the class of 86. When we have class reunions, we always make sure to have Hollywood squares there.
Jayne Sieg Morrow says
❤❤ I am also a 1986 graduate, and attended Lincoln Elementary. My family moved to PA after 5th grade. As an adult, I tried every chocolate peanut butter bar recipe I could find, but none were ever quite Hollywood Squares! One day (before pinterest, or even the internet, really) I called Lincoln Elementary and asked for the cafeteria. I spoke with a lovely lunch lady who knew exactly what i was talking about! She shared the recipe, and I finally found the real deal. EVERYONE loves them, and I can’t wait to make them again this Christmas!
Designed Decor says
That is an awesome story! It truly must be a CF school thing as nobody knows a peanut butter bar as a Hollywood square. I make them every Christmas and I think I am the only one who loves them. I make mine with a thin layer of the chocolate as I sometimes find myself just eating the peanut butter and picking off the chocolate. I was a Price elementary girl!
Sarah says
I’ve been looking for this recipe for years…I went to Barberton High, and we had these on a regular basis there too. I made them tonight for my kids and my brother. Everyone loved them, and my brother said they turned out even better than the ones from our BHS days. I made one change (based on another version I found online)…I mixed some melted peanut butter into the chocolate chips for the topping…it makes it spread really easily and it still firmed up nicely once chilled. Thanks for the memories!
Designed Decor says
Sarah, I like the idea of adding some peanut butter to the chocolate layer! I will have to try that when I make them next week.
Mary says
Graduated from Cuyahoga Falls in 1989. We still make Hollywood Squares every year for Christmas!
Designed Decor says
Mary, that is so cool! I will always make these every year since they are my favorite, my sisters and my nephew’s favorite. My grandmother made them every year for Christmas, so I had to continue the tradition. I graduated in 86. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Have a Merry Christmas!
Anonymous says
Thanks, you too!
Amy Bozzelli says
Hello DeDe! I stumbled across your Hollywood Square post on Pinterest. I was intrigued to see your blog and your story about the Hollywood Square. As a Cuyahoga Falls grad (class of 1993) I also have very clear and happy memories of this delightful treat. Thank you for sharing and I will be sure to make them for nostalgia’s sake.
Tiffani R Hernandez says
Hello. I went to Newberry Elementary in Cuyahoga Falls back in 1984. Hollywood Squares was the BESt and favorite dessert of everyone there!! Can’t wait to make these Hollywood Squares! Thanks for sharing
Designed Decor says
I love when people from CF find this recipe! They were the best part of school lunches. Thanks so much for leaving me a comment and enjoy!
HungryLittleGirl says
I love all the ingredients! This needs to be on my plate soon!
Thank you for sharing this at Wednesday Extravaganza – hope to see you there again this week with more of your deliciousness 🙂
Marilyn says
OMG, these are amazing! I’m drooling all over my monitor! Thanks for sharing at the Loving Valentine’s Day Party!
Marilyn
Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com says
These look and sound AWESOME!! Pinning! 😉 Thanks so much for the YUMMY recipe!! 🙂
Looking forward to returning to “party” with you soon, DeDe! Hope you’re enjoying a fantastic day!! :*)
Brenda
ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com