Description
Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Cookie Bars are a nostalgic, chewy treat inspired by the classic cafeteria favorite. Thick, soft, and loaded with peanut butter flavor, these bars are topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting that melts into the warm cookie base, making them utterly irresistible.
Ingredients
For the cookie bars:
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
½ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup milk (more as needed for desired consistency)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1 Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2 In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar, mixing until combined.
3 Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
4 Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir just until combined to form a thick dough.
5 Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
6 While the bars are baking, prepare the frosting by creaming together the peanut butter and softened butter. Gradually add powdered sugar, then stir in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable.
7 Once the bars come out of the oven, let them sit for 5 minutes, then spread the frosting over the warm bars. The heat will help the frosting melt into a silky layer.
8 Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
For an extra touch, sprinkle chopped peanuts or mini chocolate chips on top of the frosting. These bars freeze well and make great lunchbox treats or party snacks.