Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars are layers of oatmeal peanut butter blondies with a delicious chocolate frosting on top. The ultimate decadent dessert made in a sheet pan!
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LUNCH LADY BARS
If I were to have one dessert that personified me, this would be it. A little sweet, a little salty, and thick as can be. The perfect balance of flavors and my favorite treat.
Not to mention I have over 100 peanut butter recipes on this site. I truly love peanut butter flavor and my peanut butter lovers will appreciate this.
WHY ARE THEY CALLED LUNCH LADY BARS?
“Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars” are a version of the peanut butter bars often served by school lunch ladies in elementary school cafeterias.
INGREDIENTS
These are made with simple ingredients.
-
UNSALTED BUTTER
- SUGAR
- LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
- VANILLA EXTRACT
- EGGS
- PEANUT BUTTER – This gives this its creamy peanut butter center and a thin layer of peanut butter frosting on top of the bars. You can use crunchy peanut butter if you like nuts!
- OLD-FASHIONED OATS – Quick oats will give it a different texture but can be used.
- ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
HOW TO MAKE THESE
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees ℉ and spray a jelly roll pan (17.8 x 12.8 x 1 inch) with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
-
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar together.
-
Add the vanilla extract, eggs, and 1 cup of the peanut butter. Mix well.
-
Add the dry ingredients: oats, flour, baking soda and salt and mix until well combined.
Spread peanut butter batter in an even layer onto the prepared pan. The dough will be wet so it helps to spray your hands with cooking spray to press it in. -
Bake bars for 15 minutes and remove from oven. They should be golden brown.
-
Drop remaining 1 ½ cups of peanut butter in small spoonfuls all over on top of warm bars. Let peanut butter sit for about 5 minutes and spread when peanut butter has softened and melted.
Let peanut butter layer sit until set up before spreading the chocolate frosting on.
-
For the chocolate frosting: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, milk, and vanilla until smooth and spread on top of bars.Cut into bars and serve. Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container.
Spread peanut butter batter in an even layer onto the prepared pan. The dough will be wet so it helps to spray your hands with cooking spray to press it in.
Let peanut butter layer sit until set up before spreading the chocolate frosting on.
Cut into bars and serve. Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container.
CAN YOU FREEZE THESE?
Yes. You can freeze these up to three months. You can either freeze the whole pan in plastic wrap or cut into individual pieces and stack separated by parchment paper. Thaw and serve.
OTHER PEANUT BUTTER DESSERTS:
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Turtle Buckeye Brownies
- Oatmeal peanut butter cookie bars
- Cutler’s Peanut Butter Cookies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cupcakes
- No-Bake Cookies
- Homemade Reese’s Bars
- Monster Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Lunch Lady Bars
Ingredients
BARS:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2½ cups peanut butter, divided
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees ℉ and spray a jelly roll pan (17.8 x 12.8 x 1 inch) with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar together.
- Add the vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup of the peanut butter. Mix well
- Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt and mix until well combined. Spread dough in an even layer onto the prepared pan. The dough will be wet so it helps to spray your hands with cooking spray to press it in.
- Bake bars for 15 minutes and remove from oven.
- Drop remaining 1 ½ cups of peanut butter in small spoonfuls all over on top of warm bars. Let peanut butter sit for about 5 minutes and spread when peanut butter has softened and melted. Let bars sit until set up before spreading the chocolate frosting on.
- For the chocolate frosting: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, cocoa, milk, and vanilla until smooth and spread on top of bars. Cut into bars and serve.
Is there a substitute you recommend for oats? We have an allergy in our family.
Shoot that’s a tough one. Online it says you can use quinoa flakes, buckwheat groats, almond meal, coconut flakes, and flattened rice as substitutes for oatmeal in baking recipes. BUT I’ve never tried those.
Hi Christy, just wanted to congratulate you on 16 years! I have your cookbook and love your emails.
Best wishes for many more years of delicious cooking!
Sincerely,
Rhonda
Diboll, Texas
Aww thank you Rhonda you are so sweet!
CONGRATULATIONS on your Anniversary. I love your recipes. I have your cookbooks and use them a lot. I too am a native of Arizona and Mexican food is my passion. Wishing you continued success.
Aww thank you Barbara!