Description
These Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Cookie Bars are a nostalgic treat featuring a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie base topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting. Perfect for school lunches or a comforting dessert, this recipe combines rich peanut butter with a hint of vanilla and a smooth powdered sugar glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Butter and Peanut Butter Mixtures
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, divided (1 cup + 1 stick)
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter, divided (1 cup + ½ cup)
Frosting
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and prepare a large cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir until evenly mixed and set aside.
- Prepare Wet Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 beaten large eggs, ½ cup milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Set this mixture aside.
- Melt Butter and Peanut Butter: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 cup of unsalted butter with 1 cup peanut butter. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring continuously to combine and prevent burning.
- Combine Ingredients: Remove the saucepan from heat. Slowly add the dry flour mixture to the melted butter and peanut butter, stirring well to combine. Next, gradually mix in the milk and egg mixture until the batter is smooth and well incorporated.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the prepared batter onto the cookie sheet, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the bars are set and lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool the Bars: Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before frosting. This ensures the frosting sets properly and does not melt.
- Make the Frosting: In a saucepan, bring 1 stick (½ cup) of unsalted butter and ½ cup peanut butter to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add 2 tablespoons milk, and gradually mix in 4 cups powdered sugar, stirring until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Frost and Serve: Pour the prepared frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Let the frosting set at room temperature before slicing into 24 servings and enjoying your peanut butter lunch lady cookie bars.
Notes
- Make sure to cool the bars completely before adding the frosting to prevent it from melting and becoming runny.
- Use natural or creamy peanut butter for the best texture and flavor.
- The bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- For a softer texture, slightly underbake the bars by 2-3 minutes.
- You can substitute milk with a non-dairy alternative like almond or oat milk if desired.
