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This Peanut Butter Bars Recipe with chocolate frosting reminds me of the yummy homemade bars served with school lunch in my hometown. Only 30 minutes to make!
Featured with this recipe
When I was a kid, one of the best parts about school lunch was dessert, especially when the lunch ladies would make homemade peanut butter bars. I know some kids make fun of school lunch, but honestly, there were a lot of great things to eat. And even kids who didn’t really like to each school lunch still loved the peanut butter bars. Flash forward several years and I realized I missed those peanut butter chocolate bars of my youth. So when my sister made these peanut butter bars the other day and I think I ate about half of the pan all on my own. Ah! Sweet, delicious memories. Now you can enjoy these peanut butter cookie bars yourself — no lunch tray needed.
Ingredients in Peanut Butter Bars
All you need are a few pantry staples and some chocolate frosting on top of the peanut butter layer and you’ll have a pan of delicious lunch lady peanut butter bars in no time!
- Peanut butter – Any kind of creamy peanut butter works! Jif, Skippy, any of your favorite brands will be just great.
- Butter – I usually try to use unsalted butter in this recipe because they’re plenty salty with the peanut butter and added salt.
- Sugar – white granulated sugar
- Brown sugar – about three quarters of a cup packed brown sugar.
- 2 eggs
- Vanilla extract – about one and a half teaspoons will give the peanut butter mixture a creamy, rich flavor
- All purpose flour – one and a half cups.
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Oatmeal – You can choose either quick oats or regular oats.
- Milk chocolate frosting – use a can of your favorite store brand, or you can make your own with this easy chocolate buttercream frosting.
Regular or Quick Oats?
Thanks to our awesome readers, here are a few tips and tricks to making these delicious cookies. For starters, you can use either quick oats or regular oats. The texture will change slightly, depending on which you choose. With regular oats the texture will be a little more coarse, which some people prefer. With quick oats, it’s a little more smooth.
Tips for Perfect Squares
To get those perfectly cut peanut butter squares here are a few tricks to do while making a batch:
- You don’t have to grease the pan, but it doesn’t hurt if you do. Use some cooking spray if you’re concerned about easy cleanup.
- Line a square baking pan with parchment paper so that the layers can be removed easily.
- After baking, let the baking dish cool completely, then cover with foil and place in the refrigerator to chill before cutting with a knife.
Chocolate Topping Ideas
For these delicious bars the topping can be completely up to you! I’ve topped them with frosting, but you can use these other ideas:
- Make your own icing with our Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Spread the top of the bars with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips. Just melt them in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for about a minute or so, stirring until melted.
- Use chocolate melts and follow the same instructions as melting the chocolate chips.
- Sprinkle the top with graham cracker crumbs or a dusting of powdered sugar.
- A reader suggested spreading melted chocolate chips with a few dollops of peanut butter on top until it all melts together. YUM!
Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Bars
If using buttercream frosting, wait until the cookie layers cool completely before frosting. If melting chocolate chips on top, you can melt directly on the warm cookie.
Yes! Cover completely with foil and store in the freezer for up to two months.
All things in moderation, of course, but yes! The oats and peanut butter combo is a good source of carbs, fat and protein. These bars will fill you up and are most definitely healthier than other cookie options out there.
READ MORE: 100+ Snack Ideas for Kids
Peanut Butter Snacks
Seriously, peanut butter makes so many things taste better, not just school lunch. Have you ever put peanut butter on a pancake? Or smeared some peanut butter on a banana for a quick and filling snack? Of course there’s the classic Bugs on a Log, featuring celery slathered with peanut butter and topped with raisins. And when you need a quick dollop of protein to keep your hunger at bay before dinner, I’ve been known to enjoy a spoon full of plain peanut butter.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
- Peanut Butter Popcorn is quick, easy and perfect for game night or to take as a treat to a friend.
- Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups satisfy your peanut butter chocolate craving in just a few minutes.
- Cinnamon Peanut Butter Granola Bars will make your morning just a little tastier.
- One Pot Thai Peanut Pasta is a great way to get that peanut flavor into your dinner.
- Easy Crock Pot Peanut Clusters are only 4 ingredients and so easy to make.
- Two Minute Thai Peanut Noodles jazz up those ordinary Ramen noodles.
How to Make Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
the homemade bars that used to be served with school lunch in my
hometown. Only 30 minutes to make!
Video
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet Pan (18×26)
- Conventional Oven
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups oatmeal
- 16 ounces milk chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Blend butters and sugars together, then stir in eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, stir flour, salt, baking soda, and oatmeal together.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
- Press dough evenly onto an ungreased cookie sheet/jelly roll pan.
- Bake at 350-degrees for 12-14 minutes (do not overcook).
- Allow to cool, then spread chocolate frosting evenly over the bars.
- Cut into individual squares.
Notes
- You don’t have to grease the pan, but it doesn’t hurt if you do. Use some cooking spray if you’re concerned about easy cleanup.
- Line a square baking pan with parchment paper so that the layers can be removed easily.
- After baking, let the baking dish cool completely, then cover with foil and place in the refrigerator to chill before cutting with a knife.
Can these be made gluten free?
Yummy. Lucky you. In my school days (early 40’s) the peanut butter was mixed with over ripe (almost black) bananas and put between two slices of bread. But, they were actually pretty good and we were fortunate to have them. Times do change.
I am glad to get this recipe as I have misplaced mine! I always topped them with chocolate chips. Let them melt on the hot bars and then spread.
Why, oh why, can’t you give pan sizes. We cannot read your mind.
Sorry about that, it is an 18×26 cookie sheet. I just updated it on the recipe. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
I am a sucker for anything peanut butter. These were amazing.
One of my absolute favorite recipes for peanut butter bars! Thank you!
Do you frost this right out of the oven or allow to cool first? Thank you
Why does the pan need to be ungreased?
Wont it all stick??
It won’t stick, but you can spray it with cooking spray if you want.
What type if oatmeal is used?I plan to makes these they sound great.thanks
You can use quick or regular oats. The cookie bar will be a little more coarse with the regular oats, which I like, or a more fine and smooth with the quick oats. Enjoy!
Thank you!!
I make something like this, but my topping is different. After it cools for maybe five minutes I sprinkle chocolate chips, and sometimes add a few dabs of peanut butter, on the top. Let it melt for a minute and spread it around. So, so good. I am going to compare my recipe to yours and try switching it up.