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Home » Bars and Brownies » Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars

January 24, 2016 By Alli 29 Comments

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A sweet peanut butter bar is topped with decadent milk chocolate and served up lunchroom style. A no-bake blast from the past!

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!

You know the ones. Those magical bars of peanut butter goodness topped with a layer of crunchy chocolate. I always knew when one of those babies showed up on my lunch tray that it was going to be a good day. They were my favorite dessert! If you’ve been missing that lunchroom treat as much as I have, it is indeed your lucky day. I have an easy recipe that will take you back to the good old days of good old fashioned, home-cooked elementary school food.

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!

I had so may favorite lunches at Lincoln Elementary School in Idaho Falls, ID. Chili with homemade cinnamon rolls, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy and homemade chocolate cake…So much goodness came from that cafeteria! But not many things could be the delectable peanut butter bar.

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!
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5 from 2 votes

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bar, chocolate, dessert, kids, no bake, peanut butter, recipe
Servings: 12 bars

Ingredients

  • ¾ c. butter
  • 2 c. powdered sugar
  • 12 graham crackers crushed into crumbs (about 1 3/4 c.)
  • 1 c. creamy peanut butter
  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with aluminum foil so foil hangs over the edges so bars can easily be removed. Set aside.
  • Place butter in the microwave and heat for 1 minute, or until melted.
  • Stir in graham crackers, powdered sugar, and peanut butter and stir until well combined. Press mixture into the bottom of the pan.
  • Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 45 seconds. Stir, then heat for another 30 seconds. Stir until smooth.
  • Pour chocolate over peanut butter bars and spread smoothly and evenly over top. Allow to cool for three hours then cut the bars while the chocolate is still soft. Cover and serve when the chocolate has hardened.

Kitchen tools and gadgets needed for this recipe:

Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!

For National Peanut Butter Day today, I’ve got a pretty fantastic round up for you! Over 10 of the yummiest most mouthwatering peanut butter recipes that will make you want to cook and bake your way through. These recipes aren’t messing around! Enjoy!

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Thai Peanut Skillet Chicken // Eazy Peazy Mealz

 

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Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars // Cupcake Diaries

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Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars - Just like the ones from elementary school!

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Alli
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Alli
Alli is the food blogger and photographer behind Cupcake Diaries. Nestled in Northern Utah with her four young boys, hubby, and a full pantry, she loves baking all kinds of treats as well as quick and easy meals for her family. What started out as sharing a few recipes with family members here and there soon turned into a full-functioning recipe blog with readers from all around the world! Alli is a full-time mom who enjoys music, holidays, and spending time with her family.
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Filed Under: Bars and Brownies, No Bake Desserts Tagged With: bars, dessert, lunchroom, no bake, peanut butter, peanut butter bars, recipe

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Comments

  1. aimee @ like mother like daughter says

    January 24, 2016 at 7:51 am

    I’m wondering how I missed out on these babies for all of my elementary school days, what a deprived child I was! 😉 At least I can make these at home now and I think I need to right away. Yum!

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    January 24, 2016 at 9:55 am

    I would like to know why these weren’t served at my school, I feel like I was cheated, because these look AMAZING!

    Reply
  3. Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says

    January 24, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I have never had lunch lady bars with graham crackers and I am intrigued! I want to try this variation! They look fabulous!

    Reply
  4. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says

    January 25, 2016 at 9:20 am

    I’m jealous of your homemade elementary food! We never had anything that was this good!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      April 1, 2016 at 12:40 am

      Oh man. Our lunchroom food was the best! There were only a couple things I didn’t like. Those were the good old days!

  5. Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says

    January 30, 2016 at 11:10 pm

    If we were to barter, what could I trade for you to make me a pan of these? No. Don’t.. I’m watching my figure. Wait. Actually – maybe this could be my last hurrah.. back to the bartering.. what’s it gonna be? YUM!!!!

    Reply
  6. Whitney says

    February 17, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    I too went to elementary school in Idaho falls, idaho and my life may be complete with this recipe! I know school lunches aren’t what they were when I was growing up… I dont even force my kids to eat them…but I looked forward to lunch and these were especially a favorite day! Thank you sooo much for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      February 28, 2016 at 5:22 pm

      Whitney, I love that you also went to elementary school in Idaho Falls! Those were definitely better lunch days, that’s for sure. I hope you enjoy the peanut butter bars!

  7. Michelle says

    February 26, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    Is there a missing ingredient? The peanut butter mixture is very runny. I followed the directions exactly.

    Reply
    • Alli says

      February 28, 2016 at 5:18 pm

      Hi, Michelle! It looks like all the ingredients and measurements are correct. Did you use enough graham crackers? Twelve graham crackers is 12 whole rectangular crackers and not 12 squares. Could that be it?

    • Michelle says

      February 29, 2016 at 10:30 am

      Yes! That is it! I used 12 individual graham crackers. Thanks for replying!

  8. Beth says

    October 22, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    Alli
    These look great! #4 Confused me though – “Place chocolate chips into the bottom of the prepared pan. Pour chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 45 seconds.”

    Some of them go in the bottom of the pan and some go in the microwave to melt for the frosting? What quantity for each? What am I not understanding there?

    If I’m totally reading something wrong.. well then please set me straight someone, anyone! Hurry! I want to make these Yummy Bars. :O)

    Can’t wait to make them. I too was a lucky girl in the lunch room, we have wonderful lunches, well, except the Lima beans days.

    Thanks,
    Beth

    Reply
    • Alli says

      October 24, 2016 at 10:49 am

      Hi Beth! Thanks so much for your comment. I have no clue what I was thinking about when I wrote that step. So weird! There isn’t any chocolate at the bottom of the pan. That step is now fixed. Thanks so much for pointing that out to me!

  9. DJ Morris says

    April 20, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    Hi! I found your recipe for Lunchroom Peanut Butter Bars in Pinterest and making them right now. Just have one stupid question, when you say Graham crackers, What do you consider a single cracker? Do you mean the whole rectangle of 4 small ones or a single perforated of the large?
    Thanks for your help!!😁😁

    Reply
    • Alli says

      April 30, 2018 at 10:17 pm

      Hi DJ! I apologize for not responding to your question sooner. We got a puppy and all of a sudden my life turned into total chaos. haha I consider the entire rectangle to be one cracker. Great question!

  10. Jessica says

    November 21, 2018 at 3:55 pm

    Does the melted butter go in the mixture? It doesn’t specify

    Reply
    • Alli says

      November 21, 2018 at 7:02 pm

      You’re going to stir the graham crackers, powdered sugar, and peanut butter in with the butter. I believe that’s in steps 2 and 3. Thanks for asking!

  11. Alice Davis says

    December 12, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    Good job.. I made these in the 80’s and lost the original recipe. All the “new” ones are wrong. Finally you got it! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Alli says

      January 23, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      Hi Alice! I saw your comment last month when you left it and forgot to respond to it, but I have to tell you that it made my day! I’m so happy that you approve of this recipe. My goal was to make them taste like the ones from lunch in the good old days and I’m so glad I achieved that. Thank you so much for leaving your comment!

  12. Amir says

    February 18, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    I was just talking to my 8 year old son and he told me their lunch menu in school. It dawned on me he has no clue what these are. I just showed him your pics and he is so excited to try these ( and me too…..again.)
    Can’t wait to bring back old taste bud memories

    Reply
    • Alli says

      April 25, 2020 at 4:10 pm

      Your comment makes me so happy! Thanks so much. I hope you loved the bars!

  13. Shannon says

    March 31, 2020 at 10:29 pm

    These look so good! I want to make them in the next few days. I have a bix of graham cracker crumbs do you know how much i would need in place of the actual crackers? Any help would be appreciated! These look like the bars served in y school in Michigan.

    Reply
    • Alli says

      April 25, 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Hi Shannon!! I’m so sorry that I’m just now responding to your comment.The measurement for the graham cracker crumbs is about 1 3/4 c.

  14. Ally says

    April 2, 2020 at 1:46 pm

    About how much is 12 crushed graham crackers? I have a box of graham cracker crumbs I would like to use up. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      April 3, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Hey!! That is a great question and I need to edit the recipe now that I know the answer! We just blended up 12 graham crackers and the crumb amount came to about 1 3/4 c. Thank you for asking that!

  15. Robert says

    May 31, 2020 at 2:00 am

    Amazing page. Recipe was excellent thank you

    Reply
  16. Jamie L Moore says

    October 28, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    5 stars
    OMG. I went to Lincoln from 84-90 I loved turkey fricasse day it was the best!

    Reply
  17. Sheela says

    March 18, 2023 at 3:27 pm

    If I wanted to make these using a 9×13 pan do you have any suggestions as to how I would modify the recipe?

    Reply
    • Alli says

      March 18, 2023 at 5:43 pm

      Great question! I would double the recipe for a 9×13 pan. Thanks for asking!

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