Description
These peanut butter Lunch Lady cookie bars are soft, chewy, and topped with a fudgy peanut butter frosting—just like the nostalgic cafeteria-style dessert you remember. Perfectly sweet, rich in peanut butter flavor, and easy to slice into shareable squares, they’re a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients just until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until edges are golden and center is set.
- While bars bake, prepare frosting: Melt peanut butter and butter together in a saucepan or microwave. Stir in milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- While bars are still warm, spread frosting evenly over top. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
- Use crunchy peanut butter for added texture.
- Add mini chocolate chips or chopped peanuts for mix-ins.
- Drizzle melted chocolate or sprinkle with sea salt flakes for an extra treat.
- For gluten-free, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
- Frosting spreads best over warm bars for that classic soft-glazed finish.
