These delightful Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars will blow you away with their deliciousness! They’re sure to satisfy that sweet tooth and chocolate craving all in one go!
When you think of your favorite dessert, what comes to mind? I’m sure these will become top on your list after you make them! These are the best I’ve ever had!
I’m so happy to be back blogging in the new year after a big move in December. Moving is rough, guys! But I came out on the other side! We built our home in 6 1/2 months (with the help of many skilled professionals) and we’re feeling so blessed to be living in it now.
I was browsing my pantry the other day, taking inventory on what I had. I noticed that, sitting on one shelf, was not one, two, or three, but four unopened jars of peanut butter. Ack! You know when you keep buying the same thing, not remembering that you had already bought it? Well apparently I did that at Costco a few times. 🙂 In my defense, we moved twice in the last year, so I haven’t been great about keeping up with what I have and don’t have as far as ingredients go.
So, when I got my dessert craving the other afternoon, I knew I needed to put this two year’s supply of peanut butter to use. Peanut Butter desserts are the best! Don’t you agree? I’ve always loved Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars. I used to eat them in the lunchroom at grade school. They always put a smile on my face as a little girl. I haven’t been able to enjoy too many of these bars since graduating from fifth grade, so I decided to change that.
Except that when I make desserts, you know I go big or go home! I couldn’t leave the main bar with just peanut butter. I had to add chocolate chips. But then that should come at no surprise, given my track record. Peanut butter and chocolate are just meant to be together! They’re much happier that way and so are our taste buds. 🙂
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be more content, and sweets have a way of making me feel very content! 🙂 Especially sweets in the variety of Peanut Butter Bars. Do they do that for you too? So I will be happily baking lots of desserts this year and I’m sure you’ll be seeing them pop up on the blog! I’ll also be sharing loads of easy dinner ideas too! Probably skillet meals, because I love those so much!
I love that these are not just your run-of-the-mill sheet pan peanut butter bars. No, these bars are thick and substantial, with lots of oats and peanut butter flavor! Then they’re slathered in a generous portion of creamy chocolate buttercream frosting. Your childhood self would do flips for these and yourself now will absolutely go crazy for these (no flips involved)!
These are even better than the lunch lady’s, and that’s saying something. There’s so much nostalgia surrounding a delicious treat that came from those magical, carefree years. These bars have a whole cup of peanut butter in them! That’s a recipe for an incredible eating experience! My mom never used to make these because she’s not a fan of peanut butter, so I only ever got them during school lunch. Which made them even more of a special treat!
My kids attacked the pan after I made these and then I took some to my sisters and their kids when I saw them the other day. Everyone gave them nothing but rave reviews! So now they’re here on the blog and you get to enjoy them over and over too, just like my family and I will be doing. 🙂 These would be a perfect Valentine’s Day treat! I can’t believe we’re getting close to that special day!
And if you just can’t get enough of the peanut butter desserts, you’ll need to whip up all of these as well. These Peanut Butter Mallow Bars are one of the top favorite dessert recipes on my blog for good reason. I also really adore these Rolo Peanut Butter Cookies. Who could say no to a peanut butter cookie with a Rolo candy embedded inside? Not me.
To make these peanut butter bars, simply put together the base by creaming together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, creamy peanut butter and vanilla in an electric mixer. Next, whisk together some old fashioned oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix just until incorporated. Press the mixture into a lightly greased 9″x13″ pan and bake to perfection in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven. Allow the bars to cool, then make the most amazing chocolate buttercream, frost and enjoy!
Christine of I Dig Pinterest
Yields Makes one 9"x13" pan
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 c. salted butter softened
- 1 c. brown sugar packed
- 1/2 c. granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 c. smooth and creamy peanut butter
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
- 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips, coarsely chopped
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
- 1/2 c. salted butter, softened
- 3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 heaping Tablespoons baking cocoa
- Enough milk for thinning (start with 2 Tbsp. and add it slowly until creamy)
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9"x13" pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, peanut butter and vanilla extract until it lightens in color.
- In a separate bowl, stir together oats, flour, baking soda and salt.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between.
- Quickly mix in the coarsely chopped chocolate chips.
- Press evenly into the prepared pan and bake for approximately 17 to 20 minutes. Start with 17 and check it often after that.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before preparing the frosting.
- To make the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, baking cocoa and a few Tablespoons of milk. Add milk a Tablespoon at a time, mixing in between, just until desired creaminess is reached. You want it to be nice and creamy and spreadable, but not runny, so add milk carefully and slowly. Let it mix for a few minutes and it will get perfectly creamy and delicious!
For all other dessert recipes, go HERE. And for all other bar recipes go HERE.
