SIGN UP FOR MY FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER DELICIOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPE

Real Life Dinner

Recipes your real life family will love!

  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Apraxia
  • Family
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • RSS

February 13, 2023 4 Comments

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

A square piece of lunch lady peanut butter bar on a small plate. Next to the plate is a serving spatula head and a cloth kitchen towel. Above the plate is the corner of a 18x13 sheet pan of cut peanut butter bars.I don’t want to brag, but I think I just took the infamous Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars to a whole new level! I mean, Wow! These are FANTASTIC! I only made a couple of small changes to the recipe, like an extra egg and a titch more flour and oatmeal to make them a little chewier. And the real kicker…switching up the frosting from normal chocolate frosting to fudge-y, stove-top chocolate frosting. DELICIOUS! I absolutely can’t wait for you to try these. If you are a fan of Lunch Lady recipes, you have to also try these Lunch Lady Cafeteria Rolls.

That thin little layer of peanut butter smashed in between the chewy cookie bar and the silky, chocolate frosting creates the perfect balance of salty and sweet. It’s an absolutely dangerous peanut butter chocolate combo. 

A stack of three peanut butter bars on a small plate with a sheet pan of peanut butter bars faded in the background.Really, though, I might not ever be able to make these again. I thought I could handle it, but in two days, I ate nearly half of the GIANT cookie-sheet-sized pan all.by.myself! The texture, the combination of flavor, the fudge-y frosting….they are absolute perfection! Find an excuse–any excuse–to make these, and be sure to hide a few in your freezer when you do. Mine didn’t make it that far this time, and I can only imagine how delicious they are frozen! YUM!

A chocolate peanut butter bar with a bite taken out of a corner held above a small plate with a couple of peanut butter bars and the corner of a sheet pan with a peanut butter bar and the handle of a serving spatula.

More of my favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Recipes

  • Marshmallow Peanut Butter Crunch Brownies
  • No-Bake Reeses Peanut Butter Pie
  • Peanut Butter Cookie Pie
  • Peanut Butter Fudge Bars
  • Classic No-Bake Cookies
  • Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

step-by-step pictures for how to make Lunch Lady Peanut Butter bars

20-photo picture collage of step-by-step photos on how to make lunch lady peanut butter bars.A half sheet pan of cut chocolate peanut butter lunch lady bars.Frequently Asked Questions about how to make Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Can I Use crunchy Peanut butter instead of creamy peanut butter?

Yes, you can, but bear in mind, it will be more difficult to do the peanut butter layer on top of the bars with crunchy peanut butter. You may need a little extra to be able to spread it over the entire cookie sheet of bars.

Is it okay to use natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter?

If you want to use natural peanut butter in the actual cookie bar, that is fine. It works well in that part. However, it doesn’t work well as the layer on top of the bar. I strongly encourage you to use regular creamy peanut butter for that part.

A 18x13x1 cookie sheet pan of cut lunch lady chocolate peanut butter bars with several pieces missing where the serving spatula is lying on the sheet pan.Can I use almond butter in place of Peanut butter?

I have never tried using almond butter, but I am sure it would change the overall flavor. For a true Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bar, you need to use peanut butter. 

Will old-fashioned oatmeal work in this recipe or do I have to use quick oats?

Yes, you can use old-fashioned oatmeal, but the texture will be slightly different. Nothing too serious, but quick oats do work a little better in this recipe.

Two-photo Pinterest picture of Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars with the text of the title in the middle.BAKER’S TOOLS:

  • 13×18 Cookie Sheet Pan
  • Cooking Spray
  • Stand or Hand Mixer
  • Measuring Cups
  • Saucepan
  • Cooling Rack

More Delicious Bar Recipes

Lemon-Swig-Cookie-Bars-4Lemon Swig Cookie BarsA hand holding a hello dolly bar with a bite taken out of it, and a plate of the bars in the backgroundHello Dolly BarsCaramel_Stuffed_Peanut_Buttter_Chocolate_Chip_BarsCaramel Stuffed Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
 
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
40 mins
 
The absolutely best peanut butter bar you will ever eat! The chewy peanut butter bar, a thin layer of creamy peanut butter, and topped off with stovetop fudge frosting. Your friends and family will RAVE when you make these for them!
Author: Slightly Adapted from two of my favorite Recipes: Loaded Peanut Butter Bars and Whole Wheat Brownies with Fudge Frosting
Recipe type: Dessert/Cookie Bar
Serves: 30-36 bars
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter, divided
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp baking soda
  • 2½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2½ cup quick oats
  • FUDGE FROSTING:
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease a large 13x18 cookie sheet pan.
  3. In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, combine butter, 1 cup of peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Cream together for 2 minutes.
  4. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue mixing until well combined, about 30-45 seconds.
  5. Next, add flour, oatmeal, salt, and baking soda. Mix until well combined. The dough will be thick. Press/spread it evenly into the greased pan.
  6. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 18-22 minutes. Do not overbake. The bars will be barely starting to brown on the edges when they are done. You can test the center with a toothpick if desired. Remember, the bars will continue to cook a little as they cool in the pan. In my oven, it takes exactly 19 minutes.
  7. Let the bars cool.
  8. When the bars are cool, use a spoon to evenly distribute dollops of peanut butter over the cooled bars. Spread the dollops to create a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars. This takes about 1 cup of peanut butter.
  9. FUDGE FROSTING:
  10. Make the fudge frosting by combining the butter, cocoa powder, and milk in a 1-quart saucepan. Bring it to a boil and boil for 20-30 seconds. Take off the heat.
  11. Add three cups of powdered sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Use a whisk or hand mixer to mix until there are no lumps and the frosting is smooth. Immediately pour it over the bars and carefully spread it to cover the bars without mixing in the peanut butter, if possible. You want them to be separate layers. (Tip: When you pour the frosting on, don't do it all in one spot. Try to cover as much of the bars as possible, so you have less spreading to do.)
  12. Let bars cool completely and the frosting set up before cutting.
  13. Serve and Enjoy!
3.5.3251

Have you tried these Popular Recipes?

Chili with ground beef, black beans, kidney beans and delicious tomato and spices. topped with cheese and sour creamAward Winning ChiliBowl with Angel Hair Pasta topped with toasted garlic and grate parmesan cheese. Lemon and block of Parmesan in the back groundAngel Hair Pasta with Garlic and ParmesanEasy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-1Easy Lasagna Casserole

Pinterest picture with the text of the title of the recipe at the top.

After School Snacks, Brownies/Bars, Desserts, Ingredients, Peanut Butter, Recipes
chocolate peanut butter bar recipes, chocolate peanut butter bars, chocolate peanut butter lunch lady bars, lunch lady chocolate peanut butter bars, Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars, lunch lady peanut butter bars recipe, lunch lady recipes, peanut butter bars recipe, peanut butter lunch lady bars, peanut butter lunch lady bars recipe
4 Comments

Like it? Share it!

Yum

Subscribe and never miss another recipe!

Sign up above and receive delicious family-friendly recipes directly in your email inbox!

4 Comments

  1. Jileen

    February 14, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    Wow! These look and sound amazing. We will definitely be trying them! Thanks, Maria!

    to Jileen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jileen'>reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 14, 2023 at 2:58 pm

      You’re going to love them! I keep making excuses to make them and it is going to start catching up with me….:)

      to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment
      • Kim

        February 14, 2023 at 7:55 pm

        My chocolate topping keeps separating before it boils. It’s looks great, then it don’t. What am I doing wrong?

        to Kim" aria-label='reply to this comment to Kim'>reply to this comment
        • Maria

          February 16, 2023 at 9:35 am

          The chocolate mixture will look kind of separated before take it off the heat and mix it into the powdered sugar. Is that what you are talking about. I just want to clarify you don’t add the powdered sugar while it is on the heat.

          to Maria" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maria'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


When you start your Amazon shopping here, I receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting Real Life Dinner.

Don’t Miss These

Back
to Top
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Apraxia
  • Family
  • About
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Real Life Dinner  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs