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Classic Comforting School Cafeteria Peanut Butter Bars

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A nostalgic, easy-to-make peanut butter bar recipe with a buttery crust and creamy peanut butter filling, perfect for a sweet treat that’s quick and addictive.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (250g) creamy peanut butter (natural preferred)
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) milk (dairy or plant-based)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang for easy lifting.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add softened unsalted butter and work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized bits.
  3. Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Bake the crust for 15 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden. The center may look slightly underbaked. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  5. In a clean bowl, whisk together peanut butter, powdered sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and spreadable. Add a splash more milk if too stiff, but avoid making it runny.
  6. Spread the peanut butter filling evenly over the warm crust using a spatula, smoothing the top gently.
  7. Chill the bars in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours until firm.
  8. Cut into squares with a sharp knife, wiping the knife between slices for cleaner cuts.

Notes

Use softened butter at room temperature for best crust texture. Chill bars for at least 2 hours to set the filling properly. Warm knife blade under hot water and dry it before slicing for cleaner cuts. Variations include adding chocolate swirl, using gluten-free flour, crunchy peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter for nut-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter bars, school cafeteria bars, easy peanut butter dessert, nostalgic dessert, peanut butter recipe, homemade peanut butter bars

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/classic-comforting-school-cafeteria-peanut-butter-bars-easy-homemade-recipe-to-satisfy-your-sweet-tooth/