Old-School Peanut Butter Cookie Bars (Lunch Lady Style)
👩🍳 Directions:
Preheat oven: 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Make the bar base:
In a large bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture until combined.
Bake: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden but still soft in the center (don’t overbake — you want chewy bars!).
Cool slightly: Let the bars cool for about 15 minutes before frosting.
Make the frosting:
Beat together peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk to make a smooth, spreadable frosting.
Spread evenly over warm bars so it melts in a little.
Set and serve: Allow to cool fully before cutting into squares.
✨ These bars are soft, chewy, and full of peanut butter nostalgia — just like the ones served in school cafeterias back in the day!
Would you like me to also give you a chocolate-peanut butter swirl frosting version (some lunch ladies made it that way)?
