Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Cookie Bars are a nostalgic, delicious treat that’s simple to make and perfect for sharing. These bars have a rich peanut butter flavor and a buttery, soft texture. Here’s how to make them!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, your choice)
- 3 sticks butter (1 ½ cups), softened
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
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Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
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Mix the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, peanut butter, and sugar. Use an electric mixer or a whisk to cream the ingredients together until smooth and fluffy.
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Add the dry ingredients: Stir in the flour, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix everything together until well combined. The dough will be thick.
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Spread the dough: Transfer the dough into your prepared baking pan and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
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Bake the bars: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bars are golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The bars will firm up as they cool.
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Cool and cut: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares or rectangles.
Optional Toppings:
- Peanut Butter Drizzle: For extra peanut butter goodness, melt some peanut butter and drizzle it over the top of the bars before serving.
- Chocolate drizzle or frosting: You could also drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled bars for a chocolate-peanut butter combo.
Tips:
- Add-ins: Feel free to mix in some chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or even mini marshmallows for extra texture and flavor.
- Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
These bars are a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and peanut buttery goodness. They’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser, especially for peanut butter lovers! Enjoy!
How do you make peanut butter cake
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cake Recipe
Moist, rich, and packed with peanut butter flavor, this vintage-style cake is a crowd-pleaser! Perfect with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup creamy peanut butter (not natural—use Jif or Skippy for best texture)
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit 5 mins)
For the Peanut Butter Frosting:
½ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2–3 tbsp milk (as needed for consistency)
Optional: Chopped peanuts for garnish
Instructions:
Prep:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
Make the Cake Batter:
In a large bowl, beat peanut butter, butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy (~3 mins).
Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk, mixing just until combined.
Bake:
Pour into prepared pan(s) and bake for 25–30 mins (round pans) or 30–35 mins (9×13), until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting:
Beat peanut butter and butter until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until creamy.
Spread over cake and top with chopped peanuts if desired.
Why This Recipe Works:
✅ Ultra-moist from buttermilk and brown sugar.
✅ Rich peanut butter flavor without being dry or crumbly.
✅ Easy one-bowl frosting that’s not too sweet.
Variations:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake: Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
PB&J Cake: Swirl jam into the batter before baking.
Peanut Butter Cup Cake: Top with mini Reese’s cups.
Serve with: Ice cream, chocolate syrup, or a tall glass of cold milk!
Would you like a single-layer or cupcake version? 😊 🥜🍰