Description
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Cookie Bars blend nostalgic school cafeteria memories with irresistible homemade charm. Classic ingredients create a comforting dessert perfect for satisfying sweet cravings when you want a taste of childhood.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ½ cups (375 g / 13.2 oz) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220 g / 7.8 oz) brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (250 g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (250 g / 8.8 oz) powdered sugar
- ½ cup (125 g / 4.4 oz) creamy peanut butter
- 3–4 tbsps milk (adjust for consistency)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheating: Configure the oven to 350F (175C) and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, lightly greasing the surface to prevent sticking.
- Creaming: Vigorously whip butter and sugars until achieving a light, fluffy texture that appears pale and aerated, creating a smooth foundation for the cookie bars.
- Wet Ingredients Integration: Blend in peanut butter until silky, then incorporate eggs one at a time, ensuring complete integration after each addition. Finish with a splash of vanilla extract to elevate the flavor complexity.
- Dry Mixture Preparation: Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together, then delicately fold into the wet ingredients. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain the bars’ tender structure.
- Baking Process: Spread the dough evenly across the prepared pan, creating a uniform layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, monitoring for golden-brown edges and checking doneness with a clean toothpick inserted into the center.
- Cooling and Serving: Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, enabling them to set and develop a rich, chewy texture before slicing and enjoying.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stopping as soon as ingredients combine to maintain tender, soft bar texture without developing tough gluten.
- Temperature Precision: Use room temperature butter and eggs for smoother blending and more consistent cookie bar performance, ensuring even mixing and better texture.
- Checking Doneness: Golden-brown edges and clean toothpick test are crucial indicators; bars continue cooking slightly after removal from oven, so avoid overbaking to preserve moist interior.
- Pan Preparation Strategy: Line pan with parchment paper extending slightly over edges for easy removal and clean cutting of bars, reducing potential sticking and crumbling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg