Lunch Ladies Peanut Butter Bars
"I absolutely loved School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars growing up. When I did a project for the Lunch Ladies in the School District where I live some years ago I literally begged them for the recipe. They were kind enough to supply me with the real deal."
photo by Narshmellow
- Ready In:
- 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 11
- Yields:
-
24-32 cookies
- Serves:
- 24
ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (for putting in cookie base)
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1⁄2 cups creamy peanut butter (for putting on top)
directions
- Note - for the right kind of peanut butter and frosting see my notes at the bottom of the directions.
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease or spray an 18x12 inch pan (also called a half sheet pan.).
- Cream the two sugars and butter together for a couple of minutes until light and creamed.
- Add the vanilla, eggs and first noted peanut butter and blend into the sugar/butter mixture until smooth.
- In a separate bowl mix together the oats, flour, baking soda and salt then mix into the wet just until combined, don't over mix or you'll get a tough cookie.
- Spread this out evenly onto the prepared pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean but the cookie should be set up.
- Let the cookie stand about 5 minutes before spreading on the second noted creamy peanut butter on top. You want to spread it on carefully so you don't rip the cookie apart. This is also why you wait a few minutes before putting it on.
- Cool the cookie completely so that the peanut butter has become solid again then spread frosting on top and let it set up so it will hold up to cutting and then cut into bars. Traditionally the cookie was about 4 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. (Natural/organic peanut butter will not set up solid for this to work.).
-
Notes: (the first update was about ten to fifteen years after originally posting. Another update in 2020 - a few more questions I realized I did not write in correctly and some clarification that 20 year old me who'd never written up a recipe for others forgot to add. I'll get there eventually.):
- * PEANUT BUTTER - it has to be the hydrogenated kind just the simple cheap stuff. Do not use organic or natural its not the same taste, and it doesn't harden up like the cheaper stuff does.
- * FROSTING - You can make a regular chocolate buttercream frosting, which is what is in the photo. But the frosting in the container off the shelf will work just as well.
Questions & Replies
-
The recipe lists 2 cups of Oatmeal but directions don’t mention where to add. What is going on with the oatmeal? Thanks Angel JR
Reviews
-
I love peanut butter bars! They are probably the most addicting thing in the world. For those that are looking for a frosting recipe-the best I've found (that matches the old school lunch bars) is the one on the back of the Hershey's cocoa can. I also add a couple drops of butter flavoring from the candy making aisle. It gets rid of that weird, missing something taste. -
Not sure if this will help, but other sights use this recipe for the peanut butter bars:<br/>1/2 c. salted butter<br/>2 Tbsp cocoa powder (or more, depending on your chocolate craving)<br/>1/4 c. milk (2% or whole)<br/>1 tsp vanilla<br/>3 1/2 c. powdered sugar -
These were easy to make but I was unsure what size of pan to use so I ended up using a 9x13inch pan and let them cook for an additional 10 minutes. I ended up sprinkling on milk chocolate chips on top of the peanut butter and then putting it back in the oven for a few minutes. then they were easy to spread over the top. my kids loved these. Thanks for the recipe -
Is the brown sugar the light or dark?
-
The reason the frosting seems wrong is that it was a boiled frosting that they used not buttercream. It is called panuche, I believe.
see 8 more reviews
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Narshmellow
Bountiful, Utah
I was born and raised in Utah.
I was a graphic designer for ten years for a local school district. I have since moved on but still enjoy doing that for fun.
I love to cook, read, listen to music, craft things. I don't think I really have a favorite cookbook.
But if I had to pick it would be one that was written up by women in the area with home recipes. I think those are the best. Probably one of the reasons I enjoy Recipezaar so much.
