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Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 11 reviews

These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars combine a rich peanut butter oatmeal cookie base with a creamy peanut butter drizzle and a smooth chocolate frosting. Perfectly chewy and packed with peanut butter flavor, they make a delightful treat for dessert or snack time.

Ingredients

Scale

Bars

  • 1 cup salted butter, softened (227g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
  • 2 ½ cups creamy peanut butter, divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, scooped & leveled (282g)
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Frosting

  • ½ cup salted butter, softened (114g)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a half-sheet baking sheet (13″x18″) with baking spray to prevent sticking.
  2. Mix the wet ingredients: In a mixer, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1 cup of the peanut butter together until creamy and light in color. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then beat again, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl to combine everything well.
  3. Combine dry ingredients and form the dough: Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Mix just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix. Spread the peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula.
  4. Bake the bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the middle is just set but slightly soft. Do not overbake to keep bars chewy.
  5. Add melted peanut butter layer: While the base is still hot, melt the remaining 1 ½ cups of peanut butter in the microwave for about 1 minute in a microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle and spread the melted peanut butter evenly over the top of the warm bars. Let cool completely until the peanut butter layer firms up; refrigerate to speed up cooling if desired.
  6. Prepare the chocolate frosting: Beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
  7. Frost and serve: Spread the chocolate frosting in an even layer over the cooled bars. Once frosted, cut into squares and serve.

Notes

  • Storage: Keep bars covered in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days. Alternatively, cover with plastic wrap once frosting has set or store them chilled in the refrigerator.
  • Freezing: Freeze bars for 2-3 months. For best results, slice and freeze bars individually before stacking in a freezer-safe container to avoid sticking.
  • Variation: Add chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, Reese’s Pieces, or chopped dry roasted peanuts on top for extra peanut butter and chocolate flavor.
  • Gluten-free version: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour replacement and use certified gluten-free oats.
  • Allergy-friendly: For peanut allergies, replace peanut butter with cookie butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter.
  • Recipe adapted from Six Sisters’ Stuff and featured on page 224 of the cookbook House of Nash Eats Everyday!

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter bars, peanut butter oatmeal bars, chocolate frosting bars, easy dessert bars, no bake frosting, Reese’s peanut butter bars, homemade peanut butter bars

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/lunch-lady-peanut-butter-bars-recipe/