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Pairing a chewy peanut butter and graham cracker base with a wealthy chocolate topping, lunch woman peanut butter bars are a retro no-bake deal with that your loved ones will love!
What are lunch woman bars?
Lunch woman bars are no-bake peanut butter bars made with a base of creamy peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs. After the bars set, they’re topped with melted chocolate for deal with with the flavour of a peanut butter cup.
This recipe was given to me by a household pal and is called for the varsity lunch girls who used to make these bars. After a little bit of tweaking, I can inform you that these are the proper after-school deal with. They’re wealthy, chewy, completely straightforward to make, and can deliver again the highschool nostalgia in the easiest way.
How are these completely different from scotcheroos?
Lunch woman peanut butter bars are much like scotcheroos, however with two large variations: lunch woman bars use graham crackers within the base as a substitute of Rice Krispies cereal, and the topping is simply chocolate as a substitute of a mixture of chocolate and butterscotch chips.
Though you would undoubtedly add butterscotch chips to the topping for this recipe in case you needed! I gained’t give away your secrets and techniques in case you do.
How you can make lunch woman peanut butter bars
Just like making traditional rice krispie treats, it is a no-bake recipe that your children are going to need to assist with!
Components you’ll want
⬇️ For the complete recipe, together with ingredient quantities, scroll right down to the recipe card under!
- Salted butter: Lower into cubes. If you happen to solely have unsalted butter, I counsel including about 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
- Creamy peanut butter: This isn’t the time for the flowery pure peanut butter. I like to recommend utilizing common ol’ Jif or Skippy peanut butter or a no-stir pure peanut butter on this recipe.
- Vanilla extract
- Graham cracker crumbs: You may pulse your individual from full graham cracker sheets, however I like to purchase the field of graham cracker crumbs on the retailer. You should use any leftover crumbs to make magic bars or no-bake banana cut up cake.
- Powdered sugar: In case you are out, be taught make powdered sugar from granulated sugar and save your self a visit to the shop.
- Chocolate chips: You should use milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Coconut oil: This helps the chocolate layer unfold easily and harden properly one the bars cool.
Making this recipe
To make the peanut butter layer, add the butter and peanut butter to a big bowl. Microwave on 50% energy in 30-second increments, stirring after every, till the butter is melted. Stir within the vanilla. The combination ought to be clean.
Use a spatula to stir within the graham cracker crumbs and the powdered sugar to make a form of dough. As soon as the combination is properly mixed, press it right into a parchment-lined 9×9-inch pan.
Set the pan within the fridge when you make the chocolate layer. The bottom doesn’t want to chill utterly.
In one other microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and the coconut oil. Microwave on 50% energy in 30-second increments, stirring after every, till the chocolate is melted and clean.
Pour the melted chocolate on prime of the bars and unfold into a fair layer with an offset spatula.
Chill the lunch woman bars for not less than 2 hours earlier than utilizing the parchment paper to carry them from the pan and minimize into squares.
Storage
I like to recommend storing lunch woman peanut butter bars in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week.
You may retailer the bars at room temperature, however the chocolate layer could not keep as set and the peanut butter base could soften a bit.
You may also freeze the bars. Wrap them in plastic wrap and seal them in a zip-top freezer bag. Freeze for 1-2 months. Let the bars thaw within the fridge in a single day or on the counter for 1-2 hours earlier than serving.
Often requested questions
Sure! SunButter will work nice on this recipe. Tree nut butters corresponding to almond butter and even cashew butter would additionally work.
Sure; use your favourite gluten-free graham cracker crumbs and make it possible for your different elements are additionally licensed gluten free.
If crunchy peanut butter is all you may have readily available, it should work however it should change the feel of the bars barely.
Extra traditional peanut butter treats
If you happen to love peanut butter as a lot as we do and these lunch woman bars go away you wanting extra, strive:
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Line (1) 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
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In a big microwave-safe bowl, add butter and peanut butter. Microwave on medium energy in 30-second increments, stirring after every increment, till the butter is melted. Add in vanilla and stir till clean.
1 cup salted butter, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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Stir in graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar till totally included. Press combination evenly into the ready pan. Place the pan into the fridge when you put together the chocolate layer.
2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
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Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium energy in 30-second increments, stirring after every increment, till the chocolate is melted. Stir till clean. Pour chocolate over the peanut butter bars and use a spoon or offset spatula to unfold it into a fair layer. Refrigerate for not less than 2 hours.
1 ½ cups milk or semisweet chocolate chips, 2 teaspoons coconut oil
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When able to serve, take away bars from pan and minimize into 16 items.
Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week or freeze for 1-2 months.
Serving: 1bar, Energy: 383kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 4g, Fats: 26g, Saturated Fats: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 7g, Trans Fats: 0.5g, Ldl cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 230mg, Potassium: 162mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 27g, Vitamin A: 355IU, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg
Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
