Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars have a chewy oatmeal peanut butter base, a melty peanut butter layer, and a fudgy chocolate frosting, just like the cafeteria classic.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 18

Total Time 33

Servings

Calories 551kcal

Author Jason Decker

Ingredients

1 ½ cup old fashioned oats
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup light brown sugar packed
½ cup granulated sugar
1 ¾ cup creamy peanut butter divided
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch of fine sea salt
½ cup unsalted butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-4 tablespoons whole milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 11x15-inch baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the oats, flour, salt, and baking soda, set aside.
1 ½ cup old fashioned oats, 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ¾ teaspoon baking soda
In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes.
¾ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup light brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar
Add ¾ cup of the peanut butter, the eggs, and vanilla, mix until combined. Scrape down the sides as needed.
1 ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Press the dough into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Place small dollops of the remaining 1 cup peanut butter on top. Wait 10 minutes to warm the peanut butter and carefully spread the peanut butter all over. Let cool completely.
While the bars are cooling, make the frosting. Place the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and stir to combine.
2 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, pinch of fine sea salt
In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, whip the butter until smooth.
½ cup unsalted butter
Start adding the powdered sugar mixture a little at a time until fully incorporated.
Add the vanilla and 3 tablespoons of the milk, stir it in.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3-4 tablespoons whole milk
Place the mixer on medium-high and whip the frosting for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. If it seems a little too thick to spread, add an additional 1 tablespoon of milk.
Once the bars are cool, spread the frosting on top. Let them sit for 30 minutes to give the frosting time to crust, or cut and serve immediately.

Notes

Make sure you are using old fashioned oats, do not try using quick cooking oats.
This makes a large batch you can cut it in half and make in a 9x13-inch pan if desired, they may be thicker.
You can use this frosting or canned frosting.
If you do not LOVE peanut butter, you can leave the peanut butter layer out.
These can be frozen, see my tips above.

Nutrition