School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars

School lunch Peanut Butter Bars

My friend Julia and I were talking about cookies and recipes, and she mentioned that she'd been searching for years for the recipe for the peanut butter bars she remembers eating at her school in San Diego California many years ago. She shared with me the recipe she'd found and tried to see if I could make it taste more like what she remembered. She did a much better job with the recipe intro than I probably could, so here's what Julia has to say about this recipe:

"Hi there!

I grew up in San Diego. 

I went to Cajon Valley Jr. High (CVJH) and Grossmont High School (aka: Soc-mont).

I remember in the 80s they were called "peanut butter chews" and cost 20¢ to buy. 

This version really brought back memories.  

This recipe is spot-on. These are exactly what I remember! 

If you really want to take nostalgia to another level you should slice em up, wrap in cellophane and refrigerate for a few days to get the chewy, slightly dried out consistency.   

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!! I can't believe how many it makes. These are great for enormous parties. I'm gonna make them for friends and co workers this Christmas.  

Go Foothillers!"

School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars
Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients:

• 5.5 ounces margarine, softened
• 14 oz. granulated sugar
• 7.5 ounces brown sugar
• 9 ounces peanut butter (I used smooth peanut butter)
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 8 ounces all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup quick oats

Glaze:

• 5 ounces powdered sugar
• 1 ounce smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons very hot water

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then line a 12 x 18 inch half sheet pan with parchment paper
• In a large mixing bowl, cream the margarine, sugars, 9 oz. peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla.
• Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Stir in the oats.
• Spread the batter into the parchment lined pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until edges are brown.
• Whisk together the glaze in a medium size bowl.
• While bars are still warm in the pan, drizzle the glaze all over and then spread evenly over the top with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Lift bars from the pan using the parchment paper and then cut bars into desired size.

Makes a LOT of bars

Ready to go into the oven

Baked

Peanut butter glaze

It doesn't look like enough glaze, but it is.