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These layered Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars recipe starts with a soft, chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, then it’s topped with a creamy peanut butter, followed with a yummy chocolate buttercream. A nostalgic school cafeteria treat everyone loves!

These addictive peanut butter bars are loaded with peanut butter and chocolate flavor and who can resist that, like these Ultimate Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Chocolate Cookies and these Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Krispie Treats!

These are the best peanut butter bars of all time and became quite popular with the kids as one of the favorite cookie bars they used to serve in schools for lunches. Also perfect for bake sales, or any party or family gathering when you have a crowd attending and you want something amazing, yet simple to make.

These are super delish for Halloween and you could easily add some Halloween sprinkles or candies on top to make ’em pop with fun!

This magical peanut butter bar recipe is simple to make and it definitely feeds a crowd easily, without a lot of fuss on your part. Plus, you can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate! Bring it on! These peanut butter cookie bars are rich and decadent because you get the best of both worlds full of sweet and salty peanut butter flavor!

These bars practically melt in your mouth, but when you add the chocolate frosting, these bars are completely amazing! You’ll want to hoard a few while you can, before they all disappear!

Pan Sizes for Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Before you start, what size pan do you want to use? Do you have a special event or party or a small family gathering you want to make these delicious treats for?

Large Cookie Sheet Size: Our lunch lady peanut butter bar recipe is baked in an 18×13 sheet pan or half pan so you can cut them into as many bars as you need. I like the bigger bars, which makes 24 bars, but you could easily cut them into 48 bars for smaller servings.

Small Cookie Sheet Size: Want to bake these in a 9×13 pan for a smaller batch? You can divide the recipe in half easily for this size of pan to get 12 nice-sized bars. Another option is to make the whole recipe and divide in two 9×13 pans. That way you can freeze one of the pan batches to serve later when the peanut butter chocolate craving strikes.

These bars also freeze great in a freezer bag or freezer container, so by making a big batch, you can pull them out of the freezer as needed. Just let them thaw in the fridge and then serve them the next day or snack on them as you see fit!

Ingredients You Need

Peanut Butter Bars

butter, softened
granulated sugar
brown sugar
vanilla extract
eggs
peanut butter
old fashioned oats
all-purpose flour
baking soda
salt

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

butter, softened
milk of choice
vanilla extract
unsweetened cocoa powder
powdered sugar

Instructions How to Make Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or line a baking sheet (half sheet jelly roll pan that is 13×18) with parchment paper/non-stick cooking spray OR 2 9×13 pans can also be used. Divide recipe in half for one 9×13 pan of bars for smaller batch.
In a large bowl, using mixer, cream together softened butter, sugar and brown sugar together for 2-3 minutes.
Add vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup of the peanut butter and mix together well.
Add oats, flour, baking soda and salt and mix everything together until well combined.
Pour batter and spread mixture out in an even layer in your prepared pan.
Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven.

Peanut Butter Layer

Drop small spoonfuls of peanut butter (1 ½ cups) all over on top of warm bars. Let peanut butter set for about 5-6 minutes and gently spread when peanut butter has begun to melt for easy spreading the layer of peanut butter. Don’t try to spread it while still thick.
Let the bars cool until peanut butter has set up. For faster results, put pan in fridge to help peanut butter layer set up firmly.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

While cooling, mix together butter, chocolate, vanilla, powdered sugar and milk with a hand mixer until smooth and spread on top of bars. Place bars in fridge to help chocolate layer set up.
Cut into bars and serve.

Storing Bars

And, if you are lucky enough to have any bars left, store any leftovers in an airtight container. I like to store the bars in the fridge, but you can also store them at room temperature as well.

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bar Options

Oats – You can use quick or instant oats if you do not have old-fashioned. Old fashioned oats will result in a chewier cookie bar and quick oats will result in a softer cookie bar.
Peanut butter options, to reduce sugar, you can use something like Jif or Skippy no sugar added peanut butter. I love to use these types of peanut butters when I’m baking. They are still sweet and creamy, just less sugar. Whatever peanut butter you use, just make sure it’s creamy and is meltable.
Soften the peanut butter in the microwave for spreading on top of bars for middle layer if peanut butter is quite thick and stiff.
Want these gluten free? Just make sure to use gluten free oats, it’s that easy!

These lunch lady oatmeal peanut butter bars will definitely be a hit at any event! You’ll want to keep this lunch lady peanut butter bars recipe for your recipe file for sure!

More Fun Treats!