Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
A treat back from nostalgia these Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars have peanut butter, oats, chocolate and more. A tasty treat that is easy, flavorful and a hit among all.
Servings: 15
Calories: 548kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
- 1 ½ cups 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 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the oats, flour, salt, and baking soda, set aside.
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes.
- Add ¾ cup of the peanut butter, the eggs, and vanilla, mix until combined. Scrape down the sides as needed. 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.
- In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, whip the butter until smooth. 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. 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 that you are using old fashioned oats and not quick cooking oats.
- You can use chunky peanut butter to add a little texture to this recipe.
- You want to add the peanut butter while the bars are still warm so it spreads out nicely.
- If you want to use canned chocolate frosting you can in a pinch.
- These can be frozen, see my tips above.
- Want to add something extra? Top these with chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or even Reese's.
Nutrition
Calories: 548kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 298mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 509IU | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg