Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
This recipe recreates the nostalgic, creamy, and chewy treat from school cafeterias with a peanut butter and oatmeal base topped with rich chocolate buttercream frosting. It's a simple yet delicious dessert perfect for sharing, as it makes a whole sheet pan of bars.
Servings 24 servings
Calories 364kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
FROSTING:
- ½ cup butter softened
- 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 to 5 Tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a (17 x 12 x 1 inch) baking sheet with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until combined and creamy.
- Add peanut butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Cream together until combined.
- Slowly fold in the flour, oats, baking powder and salt until all combined.
- Spread cookie dough out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. The cookie dough is sticky so I use my hands to help spread and press the dough.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes. They will be nice and golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
- FROSTING: Beat all frosting ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Spread frosting evenly on top of the cooled peanut butter bars. Cut into squares. Serves 24.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg