Pages

Friday, April 13, 2012

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars


I have died and gone to Heaven with this recipe! I had to give half of them away because I was going to eat them all myself. If you make these, be prepared to fall in love....

I first saw this recipe in one of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.  I earmarked it but forgot to try it. Then I recently saw it on another one of my favorite blogs, Six Sisters' Stuff.  These sisters post some amazing recipes. I have found some quick and easy dinners on their website, which means a lot to me because I do NOT like to cook. Cooking and baking are like night and day to me.

Anyhow.... good Lord, are these delicious! Praise all around from everyone who tried them. Definitely a keeper for my recipe binder. To see their original write up and the story of why they are named for the lunch lady, click HERE.

This recipe makes a lot and calls for a large jelly roll pan (18x13x1). The largest pan I have is 15x13x2 so I used that and they turned out delicious. I had to bake them about 5 minutes longer and of course, they are a little thicker than the original recipe intends. Still amazing.

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

Base:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter (I mixed crunchy and smooth)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)

Second Layer:
1-1/2 cups smooth peanut butter

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 TB baking cocoa
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350-F.  Grease a large jelly roll pan (18x13x1) or spray with PAM cooking spray for baking.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Add vanilla, eggs and peanut butter and mix well. Add the flour, baking soda and salt and beat well. Stir in the oats.  Spread dough in pan and smooth evenly.  Bake for 15 min. or until golden brown.

While hot, spread  1-1/2 cups peanut butter over the top. An offset spatula works well for this.  Let cool completely. You can put in the fridge to speed up the process!

While it's cooling, mix the ingredients for the frosting, using a mixer.

Spread with the chocolate frosting and cut into bars.

Happy Baking!

21 comments:

  1. Oh wow, double the peanut butter and chocolate too. I saw this recipe over at Six Sisters and now I'm convinced it must be a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe you, I believe you.....if they taste as good as they look they are definitely going to be tried in my kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll have to try this recipe, they look delicious!

    Thanks for sharing!
    Skip

    ReplyDelete
  4. They look delicious! I'm sure my college students would love a pan of these~
    Thanks for sharing, Michael Ann!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, gosh, I haven't thought about these bars in years!!! And I don't think I've ever had a recipe...but I'm printing this one off to try! Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm going to have to try this. I love peanut butter.
    It looks good.
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  7. Peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting? Sign me up!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My lunch ladies made the BEST peanut butter bars. I'm excited to try these and see how they compare. I pinned them so I will remember. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. These looks SO good Michael Ann, I'm definitely in! And yes, I am a visitor from Barrie, Ontario. Like the new app!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh MY! You had me sucked me simply when I viewed the photo!!! These look totally amazing. When I decide who I can share them with, I will be making them soon. SO glad you shared...you are a woman after my heart. I am wild about cookies! AND PB & Choc too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG, Michael Ann, chocolate and peanut butter are the best combinations of flavors ever. Which means it'll be a bit hit at my house. I can't wait to make this!

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMGosh!!! Chocolate and peanut butter? DROOL!! Now I have to go and touch up my lipstick... speaking of lipstick, stop by my place and play... I've got lipsticks! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Michael Ann, I read chocolate and peanut butter and thought of Resee's Peanut Butter Cups! And now I'm drooling! Do you think it would be possible to halve the recipe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, in fact I plan to do that next time. Unless you are baking for a crowd, this is really too much! I think if you 1/2 it, it would cook up well in a 13x9 pan which is also a size most people have around.

      Delete
  14. ~~~~Ohhhh, Yes,
    they do look HEAVENLY.
    MmmMMmmMMm. <3

    ReplyDelete
  15. These look amazing. I totally would eat the whole batch too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. These look like they might be too good to make : ) Sort of like opening pandora's box for the PB and Choc addition.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Had me at peanut butter. look wonderful I love peanut butter just this day I bought a hugh hugh jar of creamy skippy..................andi

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh wow. Those look amazing. I think I will surprise my husband with some of those soon!

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments!