Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe – a childhood lunchroom favorite that is a must for the peanut butter lover in your life. Butter, brown sugar, peanut butter, salt, egg whites, apple sauce, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, powdered sugar, corn syrup, and milk. Chewy, peanut buttery, and delicious! Great recipe for a potluck or party.

stack of 3 peanut butter bars with text overlay

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School Lunchroom Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars are bursting with peanut butter flavor! This is another recipe from my government school cafeteria cookbook. I’m not sure that my school cafeteria served these bars. I would have remembered them. They are chewy and super delicious! The peanut butter frosting gives these bars the perfect amount of sweetness. Give this recipe a try ASAP! It is sure to become a family favorite.

How to Make Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

This sweet treat is very easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Line a half-sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together unsalted butter, brown sugar, peanut butter, and salt. Mix on medium speed until smooth. Add egg whites, applesauce, and vanilla extract to the batter and mix for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour and baking powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter and mix for 1 minute. Spread peanut butter batter into the prepared pan. Bake in a preheated oven until set and golden brown.

In a large bowl, cream together powdered sugar and peanut butter with a hand mixer. Add corn syrup, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth

Spread frosting over the slightly cooled peanut butter bars. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

Can use creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter. It just depends on if your desired texture for the bars.
Feel free to add some chocolate chips to the bars. YUM!
Can substitute chocolate frosting for the peanut butter frosting.
I garnish the bars with chopped honey-roasted peanuts.
I store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can I freeze Peanut Butter Bars? Yes. Prepare the bars and cool completely at room temperature. Cut into bars and keep in the pan. Place the entire pan into the freezer for one hour to set the frosting. Individually wrap the bars in plastic wrap and then place them inside a freezer-safe container. The bars will keep 3 to 4 months.

Easy Peanut Butter Dessert Recipe

These bars are a new favorite at our house. I took these to a get-together last week and they were gone in a flash! Everyone loved them. Give these a try the next time you have a peanut butter craving. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

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