Peanut Butter Bars Recipe (2024)

This Peanut Butter Bars Recipe with chocolate frosting reminds me of the yummy homemade bars served with school lunch in my hometown. Only 30 minutes to make!

When I was a kid, one of the best parts about school lunch was dessert, especially when the lunch ladies would make homemade peanut butter bars. I know some kids make fun of school lunch, but honestly, there were a lot of great things to eat. And even kids who didn’t really like to each school lunch still loved the peanut butter bars. Flash forward several years and I realized I missed those peanut butter chocolate bars of my youth. So when my sister made these peanut butter bars the other day and I think I ate about half of the pan all on my own. Ah! Sweet, delicious memories. Now you can enjoy these peanut butter cookie bars yourself — no lunch tray needed.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Bars

All you need are a few pantry staples and some chocolate frosting on top of the peanut butter layer and you’ll have a pan of delicious lunch lady peanut butter bars in no time!

• Peanut butter – Any kind of creamy peanut butter works! Jif, Skippy, any of your favorite brands will be just great.
• Butter – I usually try to use unsalted butter in this recipe because they’re plenty salty with the peanut butter and added salt.
• Sugar – white granulated sugar
• Brown sugar – about three quarters of a cup packed brown sugar.
• 2eggs
• Vanilla extract – about one and a half teaspoons will give the peanut butter mixture a creamy, rich flavor
• All purpose flour – one and a half cups.
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Oatmeal – You can choose either quick oats or regular oats.
• Milk chocolate frosting – use a can of your favorite store brand, or you can make your own with this easy chocolate buttercream frosting.

Regular or Quick Oats?

Thanks to our awesome readers, here are a few tips and tricks to making these delicious cookies. For starters, you can use either quick oats or regular oats. The texture will change slightly, depending on which you choose. With regular oats the texture will be a little more coarse, which some people prefer. With quick oats, it’s a little more smooth.

Tips for Perfect Squares

To get those perfectly cut peanut butter squares here are a few tricks to do while making a batch:

• You don’t have to grease the pan, but it doesn’t hurt if you do. Use some cooking spray if you’re concerned about easy cleanup.
• Line a square baking pan with parchment paper so that the layers can be removed easily.
• After baking, let the baking dish cool completely, then cover with foil and place in the refrigerator to chill before cutting with a knife.

Chocolate Topping Ideas

For these delicious bars the topping can be completely up to you! I’ve topped them with frosting, but you can use these other ideas:

• Make your own icing with our Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Spread the top of the bars with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips. Just melt them in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for about a minute or so, stirring until melted.
• Use chocolate melts and follow the same instructions as melting the chocolate chips.
• Sprinkle the top with graham cracker crumbs or a dusting of powdered sugar.
• A reader suggested spreading melted chocolate chips with a few dollops of peanut butter on top until it all melts together. YUM!

Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Bars

READ MORE: 100+ Snack Ideas for Kids

Peanut Butter Snacks

Seriously, peanut butter makes so many things taste better, not just school lunch. Have you ever put peanut butter on a pancake? Or smeared some peanut butter on a banana for a quick and filling snack? Of course there’s the classic Bugs on a Log, featuring celery slathered with peanut butter and topped with raisins. And when you need a quick dollop of protein to keep your hunger at bay before dinner, I’ve been known to enjoy a spoon full of plain peanut butter.

More Peanut Butter Recipes

• Peanut Butter Popcorn is quick, easy and perfect for game night or to take as a treat to a friend.
• Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups satisfy your peanut butter chocolate craving in just a few minutes.
• Cinnamon Peanut Butter Granola Bars will make your morning just a little tastier.
• One Pot Thai Peanut Pasta is a great way to get that peanut flavor into your dinner.
• Easy Crock Pot Peanut Clusters are only 4 ingredients and so easy to make.
• Two Minute Thai Peanut Noodles jazz up those ordinary Ramen noodles.

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars