Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

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Questions & Reviews

1. Mommy LaDy Club says:

   Yum! I'm a sucker for anything with Peanut Butter and I can't wait to try these.
   
   New follower!
   
   Betina
   http://www.mommyladyclub.com
2. More Milestones says:

   Those look great! I'm going to try them.
   
   ~ Mona : )
   http://moremilestones.blogspot.com
3. Aimee says:

   Looks great! Thanks for stopping by and commenting and following! I'm following you back!
   Aimee
4. Rhondi says:

   Oh my, these bars look so good! I love anything with peanut butter. Camille, thanks for stopping by my blog and following. I'm so glad you found some recipes to try. I'm enjoying browsing through your blog and am a new follower. It must be amazing to be a group of 6 sisters. I have 3 daughters and they are the best of friends :) Have a great day!
   Rhondi
   http://bigmamashomekitchen.blogspot.com/
5. Camie at "Home is where they love you" says:

   Okay...so my mouth is watering as I read this! I loved these too!
6. Callie Callender says:

   saved this recipe... yummo! thanks for sharing!
7. Jennifer says:

   Dang...now I'm going to have to try those and apparently, I'm going to have to try the cookies and cream cheesecake bars that are looking at my right now too! =P
   
   I guess that means I'm a new follower. lol! (Followed you over from This Week's Cravings.)
   
   My blog is http://imitationbydesign.blogspot.com if you'd like to visit.
8. Maggie says:

   oh my ever since I went to Savannah I've hankering for one of those...
   
   Do not forget to add our linking it this party here http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/06/beautiful-furniture-redo-pop-up-cards.html
   Maggie
   http://passionatelyartistic.com
9. Kirsten @ Mushki Loves says:

   Oh my yumminess! This looks delish! I am a new follower and would love it if you follow back! Have a great day!
10. Jill says:

    They do look tasty!
    
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
11. Joy @ Joy Of Desserts says:

    Looks like you had a good school. These days its all prepackaged fast food. Kids would love to have lunch ladies like the one you had. Thank you for participating in my linky party at Joy of Desserts.
12. Natalia Lynn says:

    This looks FAN-TASTIC! I can't wait to try these, they look so yummy!
13. ladybehindthecurtain.com says:

    This looks good. Would come over and share some of your recipes at my link party Cast Party Wednesday tomorrow? I guess I went to the wrong school I don't remember "good" desserts. HA!
    Thanks,
    I hope to see you there!
14. simplydesigning.blogspot.com says:

    These look delish!
    
    I am featuring these on my blog on Saturday! Feel free to stop by and grab a button!!
    
    Ashley
    www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
15. SaraBeth says:

    These sound divine!!
    
    New follower from Wow Me Wednesday,
    
    
16. Jen says:

    okay, if these are anything like what my lunch ladies served I will be so happy! They were seriously the best! I am going to have to try these out! I would love for you to come and share these at my Fantastic Friday link party. http://ironvioletdesigns.blogspot.com
17. Grandma Bonnie says:

    Thanks for the great recipe.
    New follower from What's cooking Wednesday.
    Hope you follow back.
    http://grandmabonniescloset.blogspot.com/
18. Loy says:

    I am a newish follower. This looks like a great recipe. I am the cookie monster's grandmother and am always looking for new cookie recipes to try. This one looks scrumptious. I am looking forward to exploring your blog further.
19. raising4princesses says:

    that sounds so yummy I can almost smell them! Wow, great post, MAria http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/
20. Jennifer says:

    I have opened this website up two separate times. I am drawn to the deliciousness. I a a follower.
21. Allison {A Glimpse Inside} says:

    If I enjoyed PB, I'd be all over these! lol They still look good though. Thanks for linking up to this week's Catch a Glimpse party.
22. Jess says:

    YUM!!! I want to make these RIGHT NOW. I wish I had the oatmeal! Saving this one for sure!
23. Lauren says:

    I just found these via Pintrest. They looked so good I had to click over and have a look. Lucky for me I have everything I need to make them.
24. amber says:

    thank you i have been looking for this recipe for a long time. my grandma was a lunch lady and made these all the time.
25. Heather says:

    Absolutely wicked!! These are not something MY lunch lady would ever make.=) bellesbazaar-heather.blogspot.com
26. Anonymous says:

    Wow, thanks for this!I made them & everyone loved them & then I couldn't find the recipe again but I did just now, Yeah!
27. Anonymous says:

    Wow! These are great! Never heard of them before..my boyfriend loves anything Peanut Butter and Chocolate..so I gave it a try. The only thing i did different was to use DH canned Milk Chocolate frosting. Will be making these again and again ! thanks girls :)
28. Anonymous says:

    They look yum but omg 2 cups sugar and 1 cup butter. It's far too unhealthy for me to make :(
29. Michael Ann says:

    Ooo, I have this recipe from Gooseberry Patch. Good!!!
30. Heather A. says:

    Made these for 5th Sunday potluck and they were spot on! We all reminisced about these from the Old Lunchroom Days.
31. Stevens Family says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.
32. Stevens Family says:

    They are in the fridge setting up - ack - it's so hard to wait! I can't wait to eat them! I love that they have chocolate frosting on top and not just melted chocolate chips. I was really fighting the peanut butter trying to spread it on top - ha ha ha - I tried to plop it all on at once and it just sunk straight down and made a hole, ack! quickly scooped it back up - what a mess! it took a lot of fineness to finally get that peanut butter to spread and not smush the bars.
33. Joan@chocolateandmore says:

    You must have gone to a better school than I did or just had a better Lunch Lady, I don't remember any of our desserts being so yummy, going to have to give these a try, nothing better than Peanut butter and chocolate!
34. Amy says:

    Anyone have that school lunch chocolate cake recipe?
35. Diane says:

    I need clarification before I make these. There are 1&1/2 cups of Peanut Butter listed in the instructions that I don't find in the list of ingredients. Is this an additional 1&1/2 cups of PB?
36. KotaShi says:

    I can get it for you on Monday. But it is for 600 servings!
37. Six Sisters says:

    Hi Diane,
    
    You add 1 cup of peanut butter to the dough and the other 1/2 cup goes on top of the peanut butter bars after they come out of the oven.
38. Unknown says:

    I needed that clarification as well. The instruction still say to "spread
    1 1/2 cups of peanut butter on the top of bars". ;) Growing up in small Utah community, We had super loving lunch ladies who knew and loved us,(one of which was my own Grandma) and we always had delicious school lunches, including desserts and these peanut butter bars were one of my favorite! My kids don't get this kind of yumminess now days. SO HAPPY to have come across this recipe! Thanks for sharing!! :)
39. Six Sisters says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.
40. Kami says:

    I have looked everywhere for this! I'm so excited! I had the recipe when I took the cooking class in high school, straight from the lunch ladies but lost it. Instead of spreading the peanut butter we just combined it with the chocolate frosting. Mmmm.. I'm going to make it this weekend!
41. IAMANNIE says:

    I made these today and they are so so so yummy! However, they are not the same bars from my cafeteria growing up! Dang! This is NOT a complaint though! This recipe makes a million bars and is awesome so I'll definitely be bringing these to potlucks! A new keeper recipe!
    
    Nixandnoli.blogspot.com
42. Barb says:

    Really great recipe thanks. My 2nd batch of these I added 1 tbsp instead of tsp of vanilla extract by mistake to my frosting but hey they tasted even better than the first batch. So now I'm going to keep doing that it bumps them up a whole lot try it & see.
43. Andrew and Kendra says:

    THESE. ARE. SOO. GOOD! Enough said. Thanks for this recipe, definately a keeper!!!!
44. Andrew and Kendra says:

    THESE. ARE. SOO. GOOD! Enough said. Thanks for this recipe, definately a keeper!!!!
45. Julie says:

    Yep....amazing!!! Loved these!
46. mommymayi says:

    turned out great all except the final 1/2 C. of peanut butter trying to spread that on while it was still hot was a challenge. It was dragging the peanut butter crust right along with it. EEK! Nothing a little bit of your famous choc. icing can't cover up. :) Thank you for this post. Definitely a keeper.
47. Riverspitter says:

    Double Yum! Love Peanut butter!
    I've been looking for a Lunch Lady bread spread for years. It had honey, peanut butter and (I think) raisins. It must have been mixed in a blender, cause it was smooth. OMGosh, I used to trade with my hot lunch friends for stuff out of my lunch sack for that all the time!!
48. Mandy says:

    Making these now, but why not quick oats? I am loving your stuff!
    
49. Six Sisters says:

    Hi Mandy!
    
    I have never tried them with quick oats, so I am not sure how they would turn out! I hope you liked them! Let us know if the quick oats worked! :)
50. Mae Smith says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.
51. Mae Smith says:

    These look amazing! Thank you for the recipe will be trying them soon!
    
    I am a new follower, and glad I found your blog!
52. Shannon Fox says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.
53. Shannon Fox says:

    These were absolutely delicious! I find that if you take the 1/2 C of peanut butter that goes on the top and whip it with a mixer until lighter in color and creamy, it has a great texture and spreads very nicely. Thanks for the recipe!
    
54. Emily says:

    I always use quick oats when I make these and they taste great!
55. Elisabeth Horvath says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.
56. Jamie Dalton says:

    Is there a difference between a jelly roll sheet and a cookie sheet?
57. au naturel says:

    Made these yesterday. They were great. To me the icing was a bit too sweet. I thought perhaps melting chocolate over the top instead of icing like I do for my Tandy Takes would be better. Just my opinion.
58. au naturel says:

    Yes there is a difference. I made mine in a 1/2 sheet pan. A jelly roll pan is smaller; so they would be thicker.
59. missybug says:

    OMG they are coming out of the oven right now....your right...i think i will refrigerate them so i can eat sooner...YUMMMY!!
    
    thanks for sharing
60. Six Sisters says:

    Hi Jamie, We use a cookie sheet with a rim all the way around it. The dimensions are 12 x 17 inches.
61. Steff says:

    There are 2 1/2 c. of peanut butter listed in the ingredients, and the instructions say 1 c. goes in the dough and 1 1/2 c. goes on top, but your comments say 1 c. for the dough and 1/2 c. for on top...clarification?
62. Six Sisters says:

    Sorry I'll delete that. 1 cup goes into the dough. The 1 1/2 cups goes on top. Just like the recipe states. Sorry about that!
63. Angela Carter says:

    YUM. I can taste them now...just looking at that picture. NO, our poor kids do not get such deliciousness! thanks for sharing this. I may ruin my diet with this.
64. siri says:

    just made these.. delicious. i do think 15 minutes in the oven is slightly too long. would rather have the bars be slightly gooey. next time i'll probably do 13. excellent recipe.. thank you!
65. Sara Wise says:

    WE LOVE these here at our house! I've added coconut and white chocolate chips and chocolate chips and they are to die for! Thanks for sharing!
66. Donna says:

    Wowzers....THANK YOU for finding the recipe I have been craving and searching for (over 25 years!!)...Talk about a "blast from the past"!...Now I will be able to make these for my future grandchildren!!! The texture looks spot-on to what I remember...although our High School Lunch Ladies did not add the chocolate frosting component...leaving them "naked"...which, personally, I do not mind at all as I think it really highlights the moist, chewy peanut-buttery-ness of the bar...alhough I imagine with the frosting they are out of this world. I always "justify" not adding frosting as a lame , yet somehow "valid" excuse to partake in an "extra" bar to nosh on! :)
67. V. Bell says:

    These exact same bars are in Gold Medal Flour's 2001 Let's Bake number 30. Even the same frosting recipe. The only difference is Six Sisters used 1/4 c butter instead of 1/4 c peanut butter in the frosting, otherwise the entire recipe is identical.
68. Peggy says:

    I have been searching for the "lunchroom" peanut butter cookies or bars but I also do not remember there being an icing on them. Just have to try both ways now! Thanks for the recipe!
69. Laurie says:

    I have made these twice and they are so easy to make and delicious. I don't know why there is only an average 2 star rating. I used my own chocolate buttercream icing, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Love them!
70. Melissa Christensen says:

    Is there a way to make this recipe using quick oats? I have tons of it!!
71. Cyd says:

    We have made these with quick oats before and it still turns out good!
72. Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama says:

    I made these for the treat for the week and for the snack for date night. I used quick oats (because they were what I had and others had said they worked). I did figure out one thing to do for next time: melt the peanut butter in the microwave ahead of time and pour it over the baked bars rather than dollops to spread. Plus, once I had gotten the dollops melted and spread it was the same effect. These are just as I remember them being, and my mom, a retired teacher, loved them too, and has asked for the recipe. I blogged about the treat at http://fullhappybabyandmommy.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/date-night-log-another-movie-night-and-a-movie-treat/ . Thanks for a great recipe (several in fact have been bookmarked to try later). I am also going to be making the Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken on my meal plan for this week.
73. Tyler says:

    It makes a 18 by 12 inch pan? cut it in half for a 9 by 13 or in quarters for an 8 by 8?
74. lexy says:

    Just made these. They are PERFECTION!!! Great recipe!!! I will definitely make them again!!
75. CC says:

    Probably a dumb question, but is it dry oats or make 2 cups of oatmeal and mix that in? Thanks!
76. Cyd says:

    Dry oats!
77. CC says:

    Thank you!!!
78. Lorina says:

    If you find the peanut butter hard to spread, just warm it up in the microwave or on the stove until it is soft enough to spread like frosting, or soft enough to pour over the top. :)
79. Rose Sweet Holladay says:

    For the frosting...if you bring the butter, cocoa and milk to a boil for one minute, then stir in the rest, the frosting will taste like fudge and when it cools, you can touch the top without being sticky. Fabulous frosting!
80. Joelyn says:

    I don't know what I did wrong with the frosting...my butter may have been a bit more melted than softened, but it just wasn't very chocolate-y. Wish I would have seen this tip for boiling, maybe that would have helped? And my bars turned out more dry and crumbly than chewy like I had hoped.
81. JoAnna says:

    Just made these bars tonight, and I loved them! I halved the recipe and made it in a 9x13 inch pan, and it turned out perfectly. Great tip about putting on the peanut butter while the cake was still hot--definitely helped the spreading. The only change I would make would be to add a little bit more cocoa to the frosting just to add some more chocolately flavor. Otherwise, I think this recipe rocks! Thanks for sharing!
82. heather says:

    An exact replica of Utah elementary lunch lady bars. I was suddenly in 3rd grade again...instantly! Thank you so much for sharing!
83. Alesha says:

    My child will love it! Thaaaanks, sweetie
84. Janine Long says:

    Hi! I was wondering if I could use natural peanut butter?
85. Cyd says:

    We have not tried this recipe with natural peanut butter. But here is some information I found for you on the internet when cooking with natural peanut butter when the recipe calls for regular peanut butter. Hope this helps!! ***When it comes to baking, we tend to use what is on hand, but there will often be some differences in recipes made with natural peanut butter instead of regular. Most recipes (unless otherwise specified) are written with the assumption that you?ll use regular peanut butter. The salt and sugar from that regular peanut butter can add a lot of flavor to a recipe, and the thickness of the peanut butter translates into less spread for peanut butter cookies, for instance. Natural peanut butter is often unsalted, so you may need to add additional salt to a recipe. It might also seem saltier than regular peanut butter because of the lack of sugar in the mix, so you might want to cut back on the salt in the recipe by 1/4 tsp if you are very sensitive to it. Natural peanut butter cookies tend to spread out more, and frequently have a crispier texture (this is often do to a higher proportion of oil in the mix) than cookies made with regular peanut butter. Since they spread out more, they sometimes need a slightly shorter baking time. Most recipes will deliver a similar result no matter which type of peanut butter you use ? even if you do have to make a tiny tweak or two due to a lack of salt or sugar in your product ? so you can still use whatever is on hand. But watch out for a recipe that specifically calls for one or the other and be aware of the slight differences that exist between the two types.
86. Gina says:

    I made these...so yummy! Do you think they would work in cookie form??
87. Cyd says:

    Hi Gina, These are by far one of our favorite desserts! I have never thought about making them in cookie form. If you give it a try, you need to let us know how it all turns out! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog and have a super great week!
88. Diana says:

    Waiting for them to cool so I can ice them. So far taste test licking the spatula is yummy! :-p
89. Nanci says:

    Do these freeze well?
90. Cyd says:

    These freeze well in an airtight container.
91. Joe says:

    Just made them and sampled!!Terrific!! How long will they stay fresh in a sealed container? Need to get till Christmas.
92. Cyd says:

    Lunch lady peanut butter bars freeze well in an airtight container.
93. Kim says:

    Can these be made without the oatmeal?
94. Cyd says:

    We have only made them with oatmeal. Where it needs 2 cups of oatmeal for this recipe, I wouldn't leave it out.
95. Chris says:

    Thanks for sharing this! They are JUST as I remember from the 1970’s. Delicious!!! I followed the recipe exactly... perfection!
96. Lee says:

    I am always making things for my adult granddaughter and she begged me to try and find a recipe like this because of her memories from school of these bars. I’ve looked and tried different recipes with same claim but so far not a winner with her. I asked her to describe them to me and this recipe sounds like it just might be it. Making them this afternoon as she is coming to visit. Will let you know how it turns out. Love ? the peanut butter smell from my oven.
97. Jamie Taylor says:

    Thank you! I only have quick oats!
98. GrandmaB says:

    Lunch lady’s back in the day made everything from scratch every kind of cookie bar they served were awesome at my school there was probably 10 different types of cookie bars
99. Naomi Epstein says:

    I found basically this exact recipe on another blog and made it last week, it's amazing. As a side note for the peanut butter frosting layer after the cookie part has cooled, that recipe had you whip the peanut butter (I used my stand mixer) before you frost it, so that might help people that have had trouble spreading the peanut butter layer. When it's whipped, it's just like spreading frosting.
100. Sheryl says:

     Hi, I can't find the full recipe. The recipe I see says mix until....
101. Julie A. Wooten says:

     Where is the recipe for these Peanut Butter Bars?
102. Summer Bartlett says:

     Hello! I can not find the recipe. Am I missing it somewhere???
103. Cyd says:

     We were having major issues on our site yesterday. The recipe is now back. Thanks for your patience.
104. Amy Burbidge says:

     I can't see anywhere that it specifies the size of the baking pan. Do you use a half sheet pan? 18x13?
105. Cyd says:

     18 x 13 inch cookie sheet is what we use.
106. Rick Weger says:

     I remember something very similar at my elementary school in the 60's. Pretty sure ours had no frosting but instead powdered sugar on top. I've wanted that recipe so many times...I'll give this a go.
107. mel says:

     wish the dimensions had been listed above lol. my "cookie sheet" that i bought must be a jelly roll sheet and believe you me it didnt just make them thicker it spewed all over my oven in nutty waves of goodness which quickly blackened and set off all the smoke alarms hahahah
108. Cyd says:

     We use a half sheet pan with the dimensions approximately 18 x 13. We have not had a problem with it running over the edge. Sorry it went over the edge and set off the smoke alarms!
109. Margo says:

     If you have a kid that’s allergic to peanuts and you’re dying to make this, WOW butter works as a great substitute!
110. Cindy says:

     I have made this recipe too many times to count!! Everyone loves them and requests them!!
111. Allison says:

     Hi, just wondering- do you use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe? Thank you!
112. Cyd says:

     We have used both salted and unsalted in this recipe. So whatever you have on hand will work great. We like it both ways. Really not much difference in the taste.
113. samantha says:

     I may even call these healthy and eat them for breakfast ;)
114. Haley says:

     How many days in advance can I make these and still have them be soft and the frosting not crusted over?? TIA! :)
115. Cyd says:

     These are great for a few days in an airtight container. Or you can make them and then freeze them. They freeze great in an airtight container. They are one of our most favorite desserts!!
116. Mary says:

     Thanks Tyler--could not see this in recipe directions
117. V Underwood says:

     The recipe says she sheet pan... what size sheet pan?
118. Cyd says:

     We use a half sheet (cookie sheet size) that is about 15 x 10 inches.
119. Mellissa Simmons says:

     My favorite school lunch treat! I loved the homemade Spudnuts too that they made with the chili and breadsticks in the fall. We always had those at our fall carnival too.
120. Janice says:

     You stated 2 1/2 cups of peanut butter in recipe divided it up by 1 c in the base dough and rest of it on hot dough after baking. Now I read it is 1 c in the dough and1/2c on top of the hot baked dough. I am confused. Which is it? 1 1/2 total or 21/2c total? There is a difference of 1c. Thank you.
121. Jane says:

     Growing up I lived in the country and went to a country school...there was no such thing as a lunch room, never mind food that was prepared there. If we forgot our lunch, we either had to call home and hope mom could bring it or we went hungry. Oh the joys of growing up in the rural areas lol. These sounded so good I just had to try them - and I wasn't disappointed! Made as per the recipe with the only change being I just made a half batch (empty nesters don't need a sheet pan full lol). These went together quickly and easily and I know I will be making them again!
122. Michelle Oliver says:

     What size pan?
123. Cyd says:

     We use the half sheet jelly roll pan or any cookie sheet. They are approximately 17.8 x 12.8 x 1 inches.
124. Cindy says:

     I made these last night. Very yummy but not quite the lunch lady recipe I remember. Still, very yummy.
125. Traci Quinn says:

     I love anything with peanut butter & chocolate! I made them this afternoon & they're DELICIOUS!! Thanks for a great recipe!
126. Lavinia says:

     How do I convert cup measurements to lbs and ounces or grams? Thank you! Can't wait to make and try these 😊
127. Jessie says:

     I SO remember these bars from school! I was excited to see this recipe, finally had the chance to make it ... followed the recipe exactly for a dinner with friends & it was a huge hit!! Thank you!s

     
128. Cyd says:

     Thanks Jessie. They are one of our favorite desserts full of childhood memories!
129. Judy Gomez says:

     Can these be frozen
130. Cyd says:

     Lunch lady peanut butter bars freeze great in an airtight freezer container or freezer bag.
131. Rick says:

     Thanks for your comment. Our lunch ladies just topped them with powdered sugar. I wasn't sure this was the right recipe.....now I have to try it with powdered sugar.
132. Jess says:

     This is the best ever! A hit every time ! I ate more then I would like to admit!

     
133. Darlene Bennett says:

     Horrible. Used fine ingredients according to recipe. Turned out hard, crumbly, very disappointing! Save yourself the trouble and cost of making these!
134. Momma Cyd says:

     Darlene, I'm not sure what could have gone wrong. These Lunch Lady peanut butter bars have been a staple for years! They are one of the most popular desserts on our website. We serve them at SO many functions. Not sure what could have gone wrong. Sorry they didn't turn out for you.
135. Adele Scaggs says:

     This recipe is our family’s favorite. I took some to my students and co-workers and they were a hit! I get requests all of the time to bring them in to school!

     
136. Christine says:

     Just finished making these, OMG so glad you shared this recipe, thank you!!

     
137. kw says:

     This recipe is amazing. Not too easy to spread the dough but worth the effort. It took me back to grade school.

     
138. Prudy says:

     Hi, How do these freeze? I'm making these for a camping trip but I want to make them ahead of time. Thanks
139. Momma Cyd says:

     These freeze well in a freezer bag or airtight freezer container.
140. Sofia says:

     These bars are amazing. Everyone loves them! I like that they make giant-sized bars-so fun for kids’ events. (I do use quite a bit less of the fudge frosting than the recipe calls for, but I’m a peanut butter lover).

     
141. Diana Calzia says:

     This has to be the easiest and yummiest cookie recipe ever! My husband even made it to share with his golf friends. They even asked for the recipe too!!!

     
142. Momma Cyd says:

     It is one of our most popular recipes on our blog. We are so glad you like them!
143. T John says:

     Idk what only five people have reviewed this recipe. It’s BOMB!! Literally my favorite dessert and a crowd pleaser. You’ll eat the entire pan of them bite by bite and not even regret doing so!!

     
144. Chelsea Horner says:

     How do you store these best?
145. Momma Cyd says:

     If you are lucky enough to have any left, store them in an airtight container or on a plate covered in plastic wrap if you will be eating them the next day. They also freeze great in a freezer bag or freezer container.
146. Sweet Julia says:

     I'm anxious to try this recipe. When I was in the MTC (a hundred years ago ;) ) the cafeteria served a peanut butter bar that I took every time it was served. Any idea if this is THAT recipe?
147. Momma Cyd says:

     I don't know about the MTC, but they are similar to the one's in elementary school. At least they served them in the Utah schools. They were everyone's favorite!
148. Melissa McTiernan says:

     I just made these tonight. They look amazing. I am planning to cut them tomorrow and take some to the dog groomers and orthodontist! I love to Bake People Happy!
149. Momma Cyd says:

     These are one of our favorite desserts. I think you'll make the ortho and dog groomer very happy! What a wonderful way to serve - I love "Bake People Happy".
150. Ms Flibbles says:

     Oh my goodness!! These are just like I remember from elementary school. I was a kid who hated peanut butter but loved peanut butter bar day. Thank you for posting the recipe!

     
151. Annette Specht says:

     This is very similar to our Road Runner Bars, if you went to Grade school, junior high, and high school, this is what we got in school, Only called our version Road Runner Bars, ( the mascot was Road Runners, and used to have little road runners on the highways here in Harper,Kansas. I got my recipe from the hospital, cuz they made them too. lol
152. Momma Cyd says:

     I love this name! For all of you in Harper, Kansas - Go Roadrunners!!!
153. Bethany says:

     I literally have been looking for a copycat recipe of those bars for years!!!! I remember begging people to trade their bar with me for something off my tray. So excited to try these!!
154. Evelyn Soto says:

     So glad I found this recipe! I've made your version so many times and they are always a huge hit! I'm looking forward to packaging these up for Christmas gifts! Thank you for the recipe!

     
155. Momma Cyd says:

     Hi Evelyn. These are one of our most popular recipes on the website. They are our family favorites!
156. Jane says:

     I’ve been using this recipe for years! It’s always a favorite.

     
157. Britt Moran says:

     These bars are amazing! I bake all the time and these have become an instant favorite in our house.

     
158. Amy Phillips says:

     Can you freeze these bars?
159. Momma Cyd says:

     Yes, these peanut butter bars freeze great!
160. Elise says:

     These are a hit anywhere I take them. The recipe is perfect, even when I use quick oats instead of rolled. I love these. Thanks!

     
161. Diane says:

     Yummy. Going to make for hubby.
162. Jayne says:

     My husband loved them!! I had to bring the rest to my friends house because I would have ate them all.

     
163. Momma Cyd says:

     We totally understand! These are one of our favorite desserts!
164. Jenny Beatie says:

     My family cannot get enough of these peanut butter bars, even though some of my crew will not go near oatmeal. They are worthy of every star they've received. They bottom is firm and chewy, but not sticky or crunchy. We like them best kept in the refrigerator and they disappear quickly. I normally tweak most recipes, but this one is pure perfection just as it is.

     
165. Tasha says:

     I make this as an indulgence that I seriously can’t get enough of! Just curious, any way to make it keto-friendly?

     
166. Stephanie says:

     These turned out so yummy! My go to recipe!

     
167. Chris says:

     Are these the same that they served at Bountiful High in Davis County? If so, you have made a 45 year dream come true for my husband!
168. Lisa M. says:

     I have wanted this recipe for the last 31 years since graduating elementary school. I honestly have 7 recipes in my recipe box for these and had tried all 7 and they could never get it right. Then I stumbled upon this last year and it is exactly everything I've been wanting and more. I now get asked for the recipe or get told that I make the best PB bars and I tell them it's all about this recipe. Thank you, thank you for recreating and sharing this recipe.

     
169. Momma Cyd says:

     You are very welcome. These are one of our favorite desserts of all time!
170. Momma Cyd says:

     I would say pretty close!!!
171. Crystal Wyatt says:

     Look here...Don't be leavin' no comments about how EXCITED you are to try a recipe, leave a review about how incredible this recipe is lol because OMFG this receipe is thebomb.com and then some! Flavor combo is on point, soft, chewy and will definitely be a HIT when you bring this dish to your friends. Do not even think about it lol just MAKE THE RECIPE!!

     
172. Momma Cyd says:

     Crystal, we need you to promote all of our recipes! Thanks for the enthusiastic review! But how can you go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter?!!!!
173. Jill says:

     We make this recipe all the time. So good!

     
174. Carolyn Pollock says:

     OMG! These are so good! They are even better the next day! I've made them several times and cut the recipe in half because it makes so much.

     
175. Carolyn says:

     OMG! These are so good! They are even better the next day! I've made them several times and cut the recipe in half because it makes so much.

     
176. Candace Wilkinson says:

     Let me start off by saying I'm not from Utah. I had never even heard of these until my Utah brother in law mentioned them. They are so so good AND addicting. Those lunch ladies had to have had a pipeline straight to God because these bars are definitely a gift from heaven.

     
177. Momma Cyd says:

     Candace, your sweet comment made us laugh. But we totally agree, all the kids that grow up in Utah know about lunch lady peanut butter bars! We still crave them after all these years!!! And yes, lunch ladies might have a direct pipeline to God, and patient enough to put up with kids in the cafeteria! Ha Ha Ha!!
178. Carolyn says:

     These are amazing! We love them! It's makes a ton so they are great if you're having a pot luck. If they are just for us I cut the recipe in half. Thanks for all of the yummy recipes!

     
179. Momma Cyd says:

     Hi Carolyn, These peanut butter bars are one of our favorite desserts! So glad you liked them.
180. Ann M says:

     Can these bars be frozen?
181. fmandds says:

     For years I kept trying every recipe I could find and I could never state that they were THE lunch lady bars. Luckily I live close enough and could buy them straight from their cafe they run here in Davis County. Then I started thinking that the oats I've always tried just dry out the bottom layer too much, compared to the originals and I started noticing that the original oats seem WAY smaller. So I decided to try this recipe this past weekend but I put the oats through the food processor for 30 seconds or so. Then I had read that butter dries out baked goods so I used 3/4 butter and 1/4 cup oil. PERFECT!! I can now make my own and they are much better. I may try going 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup oil because they could be just a little moister*. (*everyone's hated word)

     
182. MM says:

     What size pan do you recommend if halving the recipe? Would you change the baking time? Thanks!
183. Momma Cyd says:

     If you have a pan that is half the size of the jelly roll pan (cookie sheet), you could give it a try. We always just make the full pan to be safe. You can always freezer leftovers.
184. Momma Cyd says:

     We love buying baked goods for huge occasions from the Davis school district. You could also add a little margarine with the butter instead of the oil. That should work great too.
185. Momma Cyd says:

     These bars freezer great in a freezer container or freezer bag.
186. Cindy says:

     Do I need to refrigerate them after spreading peanut butter on top?
187. Momma Cyd says:

     No refrigeration needed. Just let them cool after spreading on the peanut butter. Frost when cooled.
188. Julie says:

     I am getting ready to make these!! Questions: I buy "real" peanut butter for eating (just peanuts and salt) but usually buy "Jif" or "Skippy" style for baking. Which do you recommend for these yummy bars??
189. Momma Cyd says:

     We have used Jif, Skippy, and Kroger (store brand) peanut butter. They all work great.
190. Amy says:

     Question? How many days will these keep and best way to store them? I need several pans for a big work event but I need time to get my other food ready too. Made them many times but they’ve never lasted long enough to know how long they’ll keep!!!!

     
191. Momma Cyd says:

     You can freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag and they should be great for a few weeks. You can cut them into bars before freezing.
192. Toy R. says:

     My family really likes these peanut butter bars. I didn't grow up with them at school, but now my children can eat them.

     
193. Momma Cyd says:

     These are a crowd favorite! We love them and they make a huge pan! So delicious!
194. Jamil says:

     We make these every few months, they are delicious and nostalgic. Literally had them for lunch

     
195. Carolyn Pollock says:

     These are amazing! It makes a ton so I cut the recipe in half and they keep well in the fridge. I just set them out for an hour or 2 before we are ready to eat them.

     
196. Ally says:

     Hubby really loves these-- major peanut butter fan! I stuck the pan in the freezer after I spread the peanut butter layer and it seemed to be taking forever to cool. The edges were way more brown than the middle of the pan and I was afraid they'd be too crunch but it wasn't a problem. I ended up using my hands to get the batter in the pan-- neither spatula nor rubber scraper worked... tried a greased serving spoon, too... guess that's another vote for why God gave us those wonderful tools! It makes a lot-- froze some, so we'll see how that works out! Thanks for a yummy recipe, even though I don't think we ever had them for school lunch... my favorite was the cinnamon roll sticks they served with chili (which I hated at the time but got for the sticks!)

     
197. Evelyn Kay says:

     Such a fantastic recipe!!! The texture, the flavors, the quantity.... absolutely perfect! These freeze beautifully, by the way, so don't be intimidated by the amount if it seems like too much for you. I have frozen these and travelled with them many times! Also quick tip....I have found that spooning and spreading the peanut butter is really difficult. Instead, I put the peanut butter in a glass measuring cup and microwave it fue a few seconds till it becomes runny. Then I pour the peanut butter over the cookie layer and spread as needed. So much easier, and the peanut butter sets up very quickly! Thank you so much for sharing this treasure!!!! I've baked millions of cookies and bar recipes, and this is one of the VERY BEST I have ever made!!!!

     
198. Keleen Wright says:

     This recipe is great and easy to make. I make them for youth retreats and camps. On the PB, put 1 cup in the dough and microwave 1 cup to pour on top and spread easily. They are very popular with the kids and adults too. I love to eat them frozen - so good and chewy! Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!

     
199. J. Anderson says:

     THE BEST!!!

     
200. DJ says:

     These were delicious and addicting!! I made them with gluten free flour and they turned out great! This will be a favorite for certain!

     
201. Brenna says:

     I’ve made these bars multiple times and they are SO GOOD! My favorite dessert recipe

     
202. Laura H says:

     Great recipe. We love these especially for a crowd. I do bake the crust for 18-19 minutes. I add an additional tablespoon of cocoa and an additional teaspoon vanilla to the frosting

     
203. Erin J says:

     Made exactly as written only made a little extra chocolate frosting. 15 minutes the was perfect bake time. Delicious! These were a hit with my coworkers

     
204. Teri says:

     I'm so excited try these bars. These will go perfect with our game night. My theme is 70's hot lunch. Making all my favorites from back in the day hot lunch. Including the hot lunch trays.
205. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     That sound so fun!
206. VJS says:

     These are so fudging delicious. It makes way too much for just my husband and I so I make the whole crust and freeze half of it. Then halve the rest for the topping. I'm lazy so I use chocolate fudge cake frosting and nuke it for a few secs to make it easier to spread.

     
207. Alexis says:

     Where do the graham cracker crumbs that you mentioned in the description, come in?
208. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     There are no graham cracker crumbs in this recipe - that was a typo. I've gone ahead and edited the post to reflect that. Thanks for the heads up!
209. Tracy says:

     This recipe tastes exactly how I remember these as a kid. The frosting is perfect and creamy.

     
210. Chey says:

     Great recipe. However, had my kid make these and they added the 2 cups of peanut butter to the recipe; it seems wise to separate the PB in the recipe from the on you put on top, for those who would be reading this recipe for the first time.

     
211. Susan R says:

     I made these only change was I nuked the peanut butter so it would pour onto the cookie, spread with offset spatula. Easy recipe and so delicious.

     
212. Lori H says:

     Everyone asks me to make these for get togethers. They are amazing and so easy. Thanks

     
213. Jcbpetite says:

     Can’t wait to try this! Question, salted or unsalted butter?
214. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     We usually use salted butter but feel free to use whatever you have
215. Carolyn P says:

     These are incredible! We loved them. It makes a ton so I cut the recipe in half after I made them the first time.

     
216. Bk says:

     These are wonderful, I find them too much for our family though. I'm curious if you've Frozen them before successfully? Thanks!
217. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     These freeze beautifully!
218. Sarah says:

     This recipe is amazing! I made it for our church get together and it was a big hit! Thank you for sharing the recipe!

     
219. Shelece says:

     Is it possible to make these ahead of time and freeze them? I love the recipe and have made them many times, just haven't ever tried freezing them.
220. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     These freeze really well!
221. Lori M says:

     This recipe is a favorite. Easy to make and makes a big amount. Perfect for a party! I am taking this batch to work for a baby shower. This is definitely worth making and I highly recommend them! Delish!!!

     
222. LKC PA says:

     I plan on making this tomorrow (or maybe later today). Why couldn'y i put all the peanut butter in at oe time? All I have on hand is crunchy PB and felt it might be better all at once.
223. Carolyn P says:

     These are the best! They make a ton, so we cut the recipe in half and there's still plenty.

     
224. Beth says:

     Is it a half sheet pan or a quarter sheet pan? It says each in different places.
225. Kathy Johns says:

     Dangerously delicious!!!

     
226. Natalie says:

     Mage them twice and they're a big hit. They're just as I remember from school. So glad I found your recipe.

     
227. Madi says:

     This is our favorite recipe! Such a crowd pleaser. I bake them anytime we have a family get together.

     
228. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     Any time we call for a sheet pan, it will be a half size. I don't believe we use quarter sheet pans in any of our cooking, instead we opt for 9x13" pans (which is the same size as a quarter sheet pan).
229. Janeen F says:

     This recipe has become a favorite! I like to do special dark chocolate cocoa powder instead of regular to make them more balanced.
230. Elle says:

     Omg! These were PB & chocolate heaven! I halved the recipe & used a 9x13 pan and also used another reviewers suggestion to boil the butter, milk, & cocoa for the frosting for one minute then whisk in the vanilla & powdered sugar & poured/spread it on the bars while they were still warm & it turned out perfect, like a layer of soft fudge on top! I went to school in California, as did all 3 of my kids, & nothing like this was ever served with school lunches but I wish! These did taste a lot like PB chocolate no bake cookies that I’ve had before, very soft just kind of melt in your mouth. Will def be making these again & again, thank you for sharing this recipe!

     
231. Shelly says:

     I made your recipe and it is delicious. There's only one in my house that said there wasn't that strong of a peanut butter flavor. He's crazy. 😆 A short cut I used was microwaving the peanut butter just until barely liquidy and pouring it on the "cookie" layer. I'm lazy and didn't have time to do the baby spoon drops. 😆 After the cookie layer is completely cool I poured the peanut butter on top then put it in the fridge to set. I didn't think I'd have enough frosting but it was enough and did not overpower all the peanut butter flavor. Thank y'all!

     
232. Rachel says:

     These hit the spot. Thank you so much!

     
233. Beth says:

     I like to be able to stack these bars on a plate without the icing sticking them all together and getting smooshed. Leaving out the butter in the frosting recipe did this quite nicely. Stays firm enough to be stacked !
234. Di says:

     Can you freeze these?
235. Bobbi @ Six Sisters says:

     These freeze great!
236. Allergy Mom says:

     Definitely a very good recipe. The bars do taste just like they did as a child despite the substitutions I made of using coconut oil instead of butter in the bars, and turbinado sugar instead of brown and white. I can't comment on the frosting because I had to use dairy-free butter substitute in the frosting to accommodate a food allergy, but I think with real butter it would also have tasted just the same. As it is, it's a wonderful recipe. Thank you to the authors.

     
237. Linda Ann says:

     Brings back all the nostalgia of old. My grandkids were fascinated to know that I loved these as a kid in school.

     
238. Carolyn P says:

     I would give this 10 stars! They are amazing! I've made them several times but the last time I just did half of the recipe because it makes a ton!. Delicious!

     
239. Lori Marmer says:

     I have made this recipe for my coworkers a few times bc they keep requesting it. Super easy, absolutely delicious and quick! Easy to follow recipe with ingredients we all probably have in the house already. You MUST make this recipe. It’s the best!