These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars bars are a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors that will satisfy any peanut butter lover’s cravings. The recipe is incredibly easy to follow and requires simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry. With a buttery graham cracker crust as the base and a creamy peanut butter filling, these bars are the perfect treat for any occasion.
Whether you’re packing them for lunch or enjoying them as an afternoon snack, these Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars are sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Tips for Perfecting Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
Butter Temperature: Use softened butter for both the base and frosting. This ensures a smooth, easily spreadable consistency.
Quality of Ingredients: Opt for high-quality peanut butter for a richer flavor. Natural peanut butters can separate and affect the texture.
Oven Calibration: Ensure your oven is correctly calibrated. Overbaking can lead to dry bars, while underbaking might make them too gooey.
Even Spreading: When spreading the dough in the baking sheet, aim for an even layer to ensure uniform baking and texture.
Cooling Time: Allow the bars to cool completely before adding the frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and ensures a neat layer.
Cutting Bars: For clean cuts, use a sharp knife and clean it between cuts. If the bars are chilled, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before cutting.
Ingredient Substitutions: Be mindful of substitutions. Changing the type of sugar or flour can alter the texture and taste significantly.
Frosting Consistency: If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk to reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Experiment with Toppings: Feel free to add toppings like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or a drizzle of caramel for extra flavor and texture.
Storage: Store in an airtight container to keep them fresh. If in a humid environment, refrigerating them can prevent stickiness.
Ingredients Needed for This Recipe
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 (227g)
3 cups powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions for Making Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a half-sheet baking sheet (13″x18″) with baking spray.
Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1 cup of the peanut butter in a mixer until creamy and light. Add eggs and vanilla extract, then beat again, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined. Spread the peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough into the prepared pan with a spatula. Bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown around the edges and barely set in the middle. Do not overbake.
While the peanut butter oatmeal cookie base is still hot, melt the remaining 1 ½ cups of peanut butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute, then drizzle over the top of the bars, spreading it into an even layer with a spatula or knife. Let cool completely until the peanut butter has firmed up. This can be sped up by sticking the bars in the fridge.
Make the chocolate frosting by beating the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth. Spread in an even layer over the cooled bars, then cut into squares.
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcal1
hour10
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 cup 1 salted butter, softened (227g)
1 cup 1 granulated sugar (200g)
1 cup 1 packed light brown sugar (200g)
2 2 ½ cups creamy peanut butter, divided
2 large 2 eggs
2 teaspoons 2 vanilla extract
2 cups 2 all-purpose flour, scooped & leveled (282g)
2 cups 2 old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoon 1 baking soda
1 teaspoon 1 salt
- Frosting
½ cup salted butter, softened (227g)
3 cups 3 powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons 4 cocoa powder
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons 2 vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a half-sheet baking sheet (13″x18″) with baking spray.
- Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 1 cup of the peanut butter in a mixer until creamy and light. Add eggs and vanilla extract, then beat again, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined. Spread the peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough into the prepared pan with a spatula. Bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown around the edges and barely set in the middle. Do not overbake.
- While the peanut butter oatmeal cookie base is still hot, melt the remaining 1 ½ cups of peanut butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute, then drizzle over the top of the bars, spreading it into an even layer with a spatula or knife. Let cool completely until the peanut butter has firmed up. This can be sped up by sticking the bars in the fridge.
- Make the chocolate frosting by beating the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth. Spread in an even layer over the cooled bars, then cut into squares.
Follow US on Pinterest
Follow @middleeastsector on Pinterest