These no-bake lunch lady peanut butter bars taste just like the grade-school cafeteria recipe! Soooo good and easy to make.
The sweet and salty combination of peanut butter and chocolate make these a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Plus, they only call for six simple ingredients.
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The Best Peanut Butter Bars
Do you remember these no-bake peanut butter bars from school? They’re such a nostalgic treat everybody loved from the lunch lady.
It’s a simple dessert featuring crunchy graham crackers, creamy peanut butter, and Hershey’s chocolate.
Made from scratch, these homemade goodies will make you feel like a kid all over again.
So make a batch and spoil your children. And sneak a couple for yourself while you’re at it. I won’t tell!
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Bars
- With just 6 ingredients, they’re super easy to make!
- No oven needed
- Loved by kids and adults alike
- Taste just like peanut butter cups (Yum!)
- You can freeze a batch and save for later.
- Chocolate + peanut butter = Need I say more
Tips & Tricks
No-bake dessert bars like this are so easy to make! Still, if you want the best, follow my tips and tricks:
- Make them crunchy. I love using creamy peanut butter. But if you want to add a little more crunch, use crunchy peanut butter. You can also throw a few chopped nuts into the mix.
- Add sea salt. The pinch of sea salt helps cut the sweetness. It also makes these taste even more like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!
- Use pretzels. Swap the graham crackers with crushed pretzels for a candy bar texture. Or, use half of both. It’s delish! If you go either route, I recommend using unsalted butter. Those pretzels are salty enough!
- Go gluten-free. Want to make this a gluten free dessert? Just use gluten free graham crackers. No one will ever know!
- Try natural peanut butter. If you want to use natural peanut butter, I recommend Skippy Natural. Just be sure to keep the bars in the fridge. They will soften quickly when using natural peanut butter.
How to Store
Leftover lunch lady peanut butter bars are the perfect midnight snack!
Fridge or freezer, they store well. So you can have some on hand for when your sweet tooth strikes.
To Store: Place the leftover bars in an airtight container. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
To Freeze: Place the lunch lady peanut butter bars in a freezer-safe container, label, and freeze. Frozen peanut butter bars will last for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars are the perfect combo of creamy peanut butter and chocolate. It’s like a homemade Reese’s Cup!
14
servings25
minutes15
minutes450
kcalIngredients
1 1/2 sticks of butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
2 cups Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate chips
4 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Place the graham crackers in a food processor and blend into a fine powder.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter in 30 second intervals until smooth, stirring well between each spin.
- When smooth, pour the butter mix into a large bowl, add the graham crackers, confectioners’ sugar, and salt, and mix well.
- Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper. Pour the cracker mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. While the bottom layer chills, prepare the top layer.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips with 4 tablespoons of peanut butter. Microwave in 30 second intervals until smooth, stirring well between each spin
- Spread the melted chocolate over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
72 Comments
ok instead of graham crackers I have these shredded what ceral,corn flakes and rice crispy cereal around.Lo and behold, they work really well!You just need enough oil or butter and enough sugar to make them good.We loved em.—Munchy and yummy!Just to be fair, we tried graham crackers too.Both turned out pretty good, thanks for yummy recipe.
These look pretty easy recipes and I’m so happy about that My kids love peanut butter cups!
Awesome and easy
I’m going to make them for sure.
My kids love Reese so we will give it a try it’s cheaper than Reese’s and they will get more.
Thank You
Same recipe as mine. Love them
Simple and delicious
Sounds easy to make. I’ve had them in the past. Can’t wait to make my own.
Yummy w
Had fun making them with my son
Tip. For people without food processor, use graham cracker pie crust and it breaks up very easy.
Yummy
I’m going to make this!
My step daughter introduced me to the bars years ago. I have made them many times. The best!
Added rice krispy in place of gram crackers. Between top and peanut butter. Made a krispy taste. Not as soggy as the gram cracker would be. Neighbors gave 100% taste test.
For years, I have paid the buckeye balls. But with Martha Redick, I can’t do that anymore. My grandkids absolutely look forward every Christmas to this one special candy treat. Now I could do it for again just a different form. Yay thank you
How many graham crackers should I use- enough to get 2C. of powder?
very good
can you use Oatmeal instead of crackers
Hi Cindy!
Yes, you can use oatmeal instead of graham cracker crumbs in this recipe, but it will change the texture and flavor slightly.
Here’s a few tips:
1. Use quick oats or blend rolled oats in a food processor to create a finer texture similar to crumbs. This helps the mixture hold together better.
2. Oatmeal has a nuttier, less sweet flavor than graham crackers. If you’d like to mimic the graham cracker sweetness, consider adding 1–2 tablespoons of brown sugar
3. Replace the 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs with 1 3/4 to 2 cups of finely ground oats, adjusting slightly based on consistency.
The oat version may result in a slightly denser or chewier texture compared to the graham crackers’ crumbly quality.
If the mixture feels too dry, you can add a little more melted butter or peanut butter for better binding.
Hope this helps!
Does anyone have the weight for the 2 cups of chocolate chips?
Hi, Anthony!
A 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips contains about 2 cups, so I’d say it’s about 12 ounces. 🙂
I made these today for a pot luck luncheon tomorrow. I had no trouble melting the ingredients. I used low power and only for 30 seconds at a time. Turned out very creamy and smooth. I added a bit of real almond extract to the topping and it added a nice flavor without being overpowering. Used your salt tip and finished with coconut sprinkled as a topping. I am sure I will bring an empty pan home!