Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars (No-Bake)
These Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars are a nostalgic no-bake dessert recipe with a peanut butter graham cracker bottom and rich chocolate top. They’re easy to make in advance and sure to be a crowd favorite. Plus with all pantry ingredients, any beginner cook can make these with ease.
When we think back to elementary school days, these Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars were always one of our favorite desserts. My mom asked for our school recipe many years back, and we’ve been making it in my family for years ever since. It’s a super simple, hassle-free recipe with no special equipment and no baking required!
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If you love peanut butter and chocolate, these bars are the perfect treat for you to make and they’re foolproof too. Make them in advance for any occasion. They pair great with our 7 Layer Bars and Strawberry Shortcake Cookies.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- 6-ingredient no-fuss dessert recipe. These bars are so easy for anyone to make, kids love making them too! With no fancy equipment and ingredients you already have at home, they’re a delicious treat.
- Ideal to make ahead for an event or crowd. We’ve brought these to church potlucks, picnics, family gatherings, why? Because we can make them the day before and keep them in the fridge. It’s so simple.
- Customize to your liking. We use graham crackers since that’s the recipe we grew up with, but you could also use vanilla wafers or even chocolate graham crackers for a twist. We’ve also added chopped peanuts and swaped semi-sweet chocolate for dark chocolate too. There are so many options!
Ingredients
Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card
Bottom Layer:
- Salted butter: We love salted here to bring out the flavors of all of the other ingredients.
- Creamy peanut butter: The other key ingredient to this no-bake dessert. It helps to form the foundational layer and flavor of the bars.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the lunch lady bars just right.
- Graham cracker crumbs: The structure for the base that also adds the vanilla and caramel cookie flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Adds nice floral and caramel notes.
- Salt: Brings out the flavors of everything nicely.
Top Layer:
- Semisweet chocolate bars or chips: The top layer that is the perfect pairing with the peanut butter.
- Creamy peanut butter: We add extra to the chocolate for more peanut butter flavor and to help it set.
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer (optional)
- Rubber Spatula
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- 13”x9” Baking Dish
- Parchment Paper
How to Make Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
- Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper (or lightly grease it). This will make it easy to remove the bars for cutting and serving.
- For the bottom layer, in a large bowl, combine the softened butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon or use a hand mixer until the mixture is well-blended and forms a smooth, thick dough-like consistency. Add additional powdered sugar if it appears too thin.
- Transfer the peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan. Press it firmly and evenly into the bottom to form the crust layer.
- For the top layer, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave in 20–30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the base layer. Use a spatula to spread it in an even layer. Make sure the chocolate covers the peanut butter base completely.
- Refrigerate the pan for at least 1 hour, or until the top chocolate layer is firm and set.
- Once the chocolate is set, lift the slab of bars out of the pan using the parchment paper (if you used it) and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares or bars of your desired size.
Expert Tips
- Add more powdered sugar if the bottom layer seems too thin. This will help to thicken it to the right consistency depending on the texture of your peanut butter.
- Be sure to microwave the chocolate in intervals. You will want to do this in 20 to 30 second time periods and stir in between each one to make sure the chocolate melts evenly and doesn’t seize.
- Refrigerate the bars for at least 1 hour. This helps them to set fully before serving so it’s easy to slice and serve.
- Buy graham cracker crumbs or use your food processor. This will quickly turn regular graham crackers into crumbs in a matter of seconds.
Storage and Make Ahead
Store any leftover bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze these bars wrapped in parchment paper and then plastic wrap for 2 to 3 months. Thaw them before enjoying.
Lunch lady bars happen to be the best make ahead dessert that’s easy to transport too. We love to bring them to events or potlucks as a dessert option.
Frequently Asked Questions
We also love adding other spices like cinnamon, chopped peanuts, or swapping out the chocolate for dark chocolate.
Make sure you refrigerate them for at least an hour. If they still aren’t slicing nicely, then pop them in the freezer for 15 minutes and try again.
Yes, any nut butter works great for these! Cashew or sunflower butter are two other delicious options.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars (No-bake)
Ingredients
Bottom Layer
- 1 cup salted butter melted
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar plus 1/4 cup if needed
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Top Layer
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate bars or chips
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper (or lightly grease it). This will make it easy to remove the bars for cutting and serving.
- For the bottom layer, in a large bowl, combine the softened butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon or use a hand mixer until the mixture is well-blended and forms a smooth, thick dough-like consistency. Add additional powdered sugar if it appears too thin.
- Transfer the peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan. Press it firmly and evenly into the bottom to form the crust layer.
- For the top layer, In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave in 20–30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the base layer. Use a spatula to spread it in an even layer. Make sure the chocolate covers the peanut butter base completely.
- Refrigerate the pan for at least 1 hour, or until the top chocolate layer is firm and set.
- Once the chocolate is set, lift the slab of bars out of the pan using the parchment paper (if you used it) and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares or bars of your desired size.
Video
Notes
- Add more powdered sugar if the bottom layer seems too thin. This will help to thicken it to the right consistency depending on the texture of your peanut butter.
- Be sure to microwave the chocolate in intervals. You will want to do this in 20 to 30 second time periods and stir in between each one to make sure the chocolate melts evenly and doesn’t seize.
- Refrigerate the bars for at least 1 hour. This helps them to set fully before serving so it’s easy to slice and serve.
- Buy graham cracker crumbs or use your food processor. This will quickly turn regular graham crackers into crumbs in a matter of seconds.
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
I made these tonight! Super easy! Super delish! Next time, I might make them in a smaller dish just to have a thicker base layer. Otherwise, perfectly tasty as is!
Awwww!! That makes my heart so happy to hear!! Thank you SO much!!!🥰
Is it okay to use crunchy peanut butter?
Yes, you could. 🙂
Fast and easy to make and can be made vegan substitute margarine for butter and use sweet dark chocolate that has no milk in it.
Awwww!! That makes my heart so happy to hear!! Thank you SO much!!!🥰
I’ve made these numerous times and they are the best. They don’t last around my house!
Oh that is just WONDERFUL!! Thank you SO much!!!🥰 I’m SO happy they’ve been loved and a repeat!
This is so good. I’m so glad I found your page. Thank you. Louise
Aww!🥹You’re so sweet! Thank you SO much!!!🥰 I’m so happy you’re here as well!
Getting ready to make these, but I see in your video you’re using melted butter and in the directions it states softened butter. Does it matter?
Either way would work, but I changed the “room temp” to melted so that it’s not confusing. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I hope you love them!
If you love chocolate and peanut butter, then this recipe is for you. I promise they melt in your mouth and are to die for (as they say)!
I’m with you, Nancy! SO HAPPY you made it and liked it so much!!
I found that I needed to do 1.5 times the amount of chocolate – otherwise you cannot even taste it. Super easy recipe!
Thank you SO much!!!🥰 I made them like our cooks did, but you can always add more chocolate if you’d like.
Awesome and so simple
Thank you SO much!!!🥰
What were you using to measure the peanut butter with?
It’s a Pampered Chef measure all cup 🙂