peanut butter bars

So every time these bars get talked about, someone mentions that they had them in their school lunch when they were a kid. And I want to ask, which school did you go to? My school never seemed to have anything nearly as good as these peanut butter bars… I just remember a lot of bland gravy over mashed potatoes and rolls with lard dripping off them. I was first introduced to these by my sister in law Jill, who used to make them for family parties, and I totally fell in love! I had forgotten about them for a while, and then I saw this recipe on Chef in Training and couldn’t stop thinking about them. I halved the recipe, because heaven knows I don’t need to eat a full size batch of these babies, and it was perfect in a 9 x 13 pan. I love the perfect mixture of chewy oats and peanut butter with creamy chocolate frosting… so good! I have to confess, I actually like these better the next day… I think the frosting tastes better after it has hardened a little. Either way, make them!

Peanut Butter Bars
Chef in Training

1 cup butter softened
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups old fashioned oats

Frosting:

1/3 cup butter softened
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup warm milk

Cream butter and sugars together in a large bowl. Beat in eggs, vanilla and peanut butter.
Mix in flour, baking soda and salt. Then mix in the oats. Spread dough into a greased jelly roll pan. Press down so entire pan is evenly covered. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes. If will appear to still be a little soft when it comes out. Let cool completely.

For the frosting: Beat butter, cocoa, salt and vanilla together. Add in powdered sugar and warm milk and beat until smooth. Spread evenly over rolled peanut butter bars.