It’s time to go back to school! And no, we don’t actually mean it’s time to hit the books. What we’re saying is, with one taste of these Cafeteria Peanut Butter Bars, your tastebuds will be sent right back to those semi-crowded cafeteria tables full of your friends and classmates for lunch. Imagine it… you just finished up your sloppy joe and carrots and you actually saved your dessert for last, because you know it’s worth the wait. You bite into the moist peanut butter square that is smothered with a sugary, sweet, peanut buttery icing and it’s like, actually the best part of your day. Life was so simple back then, huh? Well, let’s go back in time with some of these Cafeteria Peanut Butter Bars!
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup golden brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour, sifted
For the icing:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup peanut butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon milk, plus more, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 3 –In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and 1 1/2 cups of the peanut butter together in the microwave.
Step 4 –Set the peanut butter mixture aside to come to room temperature.
Step 5 –In a large bowl, sift the granulated sugar, the brown sugar, and the salt together.
Step 6 –Whisk the eggs, one at a time, into the sugar mixture until combined.
Step 7 –Add the vanilla to the sugar mixture.
Step 8 –Whisk the peanut butter mixture into the sugar mixture.
Step 9 –Sift the flour into the sugar mixture, and mix until the flour just disappears.
Step 10 –Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, about 35 minutes.
Step 11 –Transfer the peanut butter mixture from the oven and allow it to cool in the dish.
Step 12 –Flip the peanut butter mixture onto a cooling rack that is fitted with a cookie sheet.
Step 13 –In a bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar, the remaining melted peanut butter, and the milk together. Add more of the milk as needed until the icing reaches your desired consistency.
Step 14 –Drizzle the icing over the peanut butter mixture and let it rest until the icing has set.
Step 15 –Cut the peanut butter mixture into bars and serve.
