Description
Deliciously chewy Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars with a rich chocolate frosting topping. These bars combine creamy peanut butter, oats, and a buttery cookie base, making them a perfect sweet treat or snack for any time of the day.
Ingredients
Scale
Bars
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 to 5 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a large 17 x 12 x 1 inch baking sheet with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together with an electric hand mixer until the mixture is creamy and well combined. Then add the creamy peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Slowly add in the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, baking powder, and salt. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated and form a sticky dough.
- Spread and Bake: Spread the sticky dough evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. To make spreading easier, spray the back of a spoon with cooking spray and use it to gently smooth out the dough into an even layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 16 to 18 minutes until the bars turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, mix together the softened butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 4 to 5 tablespoons of milk until smooth and creamy. Adjust the milk slightly to reach desired consistency.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the cooled peanut butter bars. Cut into 24 squares. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a spoon sprayed with cooking spray to easily spread the sticky dough.
- Make sure bars are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Store bars in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- Can be frozen for longer storage; thaw before frosting.
