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Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Bars

These thick, soft peanut butter bars are a nostalgic twist on classic lunch lady cookies—baked in a pan for easy slicing. They’re chewy, rich, and perfectly sweet with that classic peanut butter flavor in every bite.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 0.5 cup butter unsalted, softened
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.75 cup peanut butter creamy
  • 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.75 tsp baking soda
  • 0.25 tsp salt

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare a baking pan.
  2. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
  3. Mix in egg, vanilla, and peanut butter.
  4. Combine dry ingredients and mix into dough.
  5. Spread dough evenly into prepared pan.
  6. Bake for 15–18 minutes until lightly golden at edges.
  7. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

Do not overbake—these bars should stay soft and chewy. For extra indulgence, you can add a simple peanut butter frosting on top.