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Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Cookie Bars

These thick, soft peanut butter bars are topped with a rich, creamy frosting that melts right into the surface—just like the nostalgic school cafeteria classic. Sweet, buttery, and packed with peanut butter flavor, they’re made for sharing.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1.5 cups peanut butter divided
  • 1.5 cups butter unsalted, softened
  • 2 tbsp milk additional
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare a large baking sheet.
  2. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
  3. Whisk milk, vanilla, and eggs in a separate bowl.
  4. Melt butter and peanut butter together, then stir into dry ingredients.
  5. Add egg mixture and mix until smooth.
  6. Spread batter evenly and bake for about 20 minutes.
  7. Cool completely before frosting.
  8. For frosting, melt butter and peanut butter, stir in milk and powdered sugar until smooth.
  9. Spread frosting over cooled bars and let set before slicing.

Notes

Frost while the bars are slightly warm for a smooth, glossy finish that melts perfectly into the top layer.