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Pairing a chewy peanut butter and graham cracker base with a rich chocolate topping, lunch lady peanut butter bars are a retro no-bake treat that your family will love!
What are lunch lady bars?
Lunch lady bars are no-bake peanut butter bars made with a base of creamy peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs. After the bars set, they are topped with melted chocolate for treat with the flavor of a peanut butter cup.
This recipe was given to me by a family friend and is named for the school lunch ladies who used to make these bars. After a bit of tweaking, I can tell you that these are the perfect after-school treat. They’re rich, chewy, totally easy to make, and will bring back the high school nostalgia in the best way.
How are these different from scotcheroos?
Lunch lady peanut butter bars are similar to scotcheroos, but with two big differences: lunch lady bars use graham crackers in the base instead of Rice Krispies cereal, and the topping is just chocolate instead of a mix of chocolate and butterscotch chips.
Although you could definitely add butterscotch chips to the topping for this recipe if you wanted! I won’t give away your secrets if you do.
How to make lunch lady peanut butter bars
Similar to making classic rice krispie treats, this is a no-bake recipe that your kids are going to want to help with!
Ingredients you’ll need
⬇️ For the full recipe, including ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below!
- Salted butter: Cut into cubes. If you only have unsalted butter, I suggest adding about 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
- Creamy peanut butter: This is not the time for the fancy natural peanut butter. I recommend using regular ol’ Jif or Skippy peanut butter or a no-stir natural peanut butter in this recipe.
- Vanilla extract
- Graham cracker crumbs: You can pulse your own from full graham cracker sheets, but I like to buy the box of graham cracker crumbs at the store. You can use any leftover crumbs to make magic bars or no-bake banana split cake.
- Powdered sugar: If you are out, learn how to make powdered sugar from granulated sugar and save yourself a trip to the store.
- Chocolate chips: You can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Coconut oil: This helps the chocolate layer spread smoothly and harden nicely one the bars cool.
Making this recipe
To make the peanut butter layer, add the butter and peanut butter to a large bowl. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the butter is melted. Stir in the vanilla. The mixture should be smooth.
Use a spatula to stir in the graham cracker crumbs and the powdered sugar to make a sort of dough. Once the mixture is well combined, press it into a parchment-lined 9×9-inch pan.
Set the pan in the refrigerator while you make the chocolate layer. The base does not need to cool completely.
In another microwave-safe bowl, mix the chocolate chips and the coconut oil. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate on top of the bars and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula.
Chill the lunch lady bars for at least 2 hours before using the parchment paper to lift them from the pan and cut into squares.
Storage
I recommend storing lunch lady peanut butter bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
You can store the bars at room temperature, but the chocolate layer may not stay as set and the peanut butter base may soften a bit.
You can also freeze the bars. Wrap them in plastic wrap and seal them in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for 1-2 months. Let the bars thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for 1-2 hours before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! SunButter will work great in this recipe. Tree nut butters such as almond butter or even cashew butter would also work.
Yes; use your favorite gluten-free graham cracker crumbs and make sure that your other ingredients are also certified gluten free.
If crunchy peanut butter is all you have on hand, it will work but it will change the texture of the bars slightly.
More classic peanut butter treats
If you love peanut butter as much as we do and these lunch lady bars leave you wanting more, try:
- Buckeye candy
- Peanut butter blossoms
- Peanut butter pie
- Easy peanut butter fudge
- Honey peanut butter cookies
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter cubed
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups milk or semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Line (1) 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, add butter and peanut butter. Microwave on medium power in 30-second increments, stirring after each increment, until the butter is melted. Add in vanilla and stir until smooth.1 cup salted butter, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Stir in graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar until fully incorporated. Press mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Place the pan into the refrigerator while you prepare the chocolate layer.2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium power in 30-second increments, stirring after each increment, until the chocolate is melted. Stir until smooth. Pour chocolate over the peanut butter bars and use a spoon or offset spatula to spread it into an even layer. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.1 ½ cups milk or semisweet chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- When ready to serve, remove bars from pan and cut into 16 pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
