The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

If you grew up in Utah, Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars were basically a rite of passage. Thick, chewy, and slathered in chocolate frosting. My version is even better, and yes, this one earned its spot in my cookbook for a reason.

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars

This nostalgic lunch lady bar recipe only takes about 35 minutes! They are dangerously good, and your whole family will devour them! Here’s how you make them!

Bars

1. Cream together: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then cream together the brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter.
2. Blend: Add the eggs, salt, baking soda, rolled oats, and flour. Mix to combine.
3. Bake: Spread the dough into a 15 X 9 X 2-inch baking sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes and cool completely before frosting.

Peanut Butter/Frosting

4. Spread on the peanut butter layer: After cooling, spread 1 cup of peanut butter on top of the bars. Soften the peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds so it spreads easier.
5. Melt the butter/ Add the cocoa powder: For the frosting, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk to combine.
6. Whisk the frosting ingredients: Remove from the heat and add 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 6 tablespoons milk. Whisk together until silky and smooth.
7. Frost: Pour the frosting over the peanut butter layer and spread it evenly on top. Allow the frosting to set for a few minutes before cutting the peanut butter bars and enjoying!

More Peanut Butter Desserts

If you love peanut butter, then you are surely going to love these other peanut butter recipes, like this yummy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, these easy Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, and these new Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies!