Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars

These little beauties are popping up on Pinterest, touting themselves as "Lunch Lady" bars. Apparently they are so easy to make that lunch ladies in schools all across America used to make them as a dessert for the kids. This was obviously before peanut butter was banned in most schools, and I don't remember these desserts at all from any of my school lunches. But I still had to try them. And I wasn't disappointed. So easy and so yummy! Perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks too.

It makes an entire jelly roll pan. And this one was my biggest pan!

The peanut butter bar with the chocolate frosting on top is a winner!

Peanut Butter Lunch Lady Bars

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups peanut butter (divided)
2 cups oatmeal (not quick)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Cream first 3 ingredients together. Add the vanilla, eggs, and 1 cup peanut butter and combine. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together. Spread dough on a greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1″). Make at 350 degrees for 15 minutes (until golden brown). While hot spread the other 1 1/2 cups peanut butter on top. Drop all over top by little spoonfuls. It will soften (melt) and make it easier to spread. Then let cool so that the peanut butter has become solid again (I usually throw them in the fridge so they set up faster and so I can eat them sooner!). Spread the chocolate frosting on top and cut into bars.

Chocolate Frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1-2 tsp vanilla (depending on your taste)
3 Tablespoons cocoa 2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until smooth and spread on top of bars.

recipe from Six Sisters Stuff