peanut butter crunch bars

IMG_8402 copy
IMG_8402 copy

Did you grow up on these in your school cafeteria? Don't tell my mom, but I remember trading the rest of my meal with anyone who would oblige and sometimes ended up with three of these bars on my tray. I am a dessert girl, and these were my favorite!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup margarine

  • 1/2 cup Crisco

  • 1 3/4 cup sugar

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1 cup peanut butter

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1 1/2 cups flour

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 2 tsp vanilla

  • 3 cups quick oatmeal

IMG_8377
IMG_8377

Directions

  • Mix together and put in greased and floured 12 x 16 pan.

  • Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

IMG_8378
IMG_8378
IMG_8379
IMG_8379

Frosting

  • 3/4 cup peanut butter

  • 2 1/2 tbsp margarine

  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Mix and add enough water (we used about 1 cup) to make it to spreading consistency. Spread evenly on bars.

IMG_8394
IMG_8394
IMG_8396 copy
IMG_8396 copy

Thoughts

  • Just as delicious as I remember!

  • I think next time I might put them in a smaller pan so they are a little thicker.

  • In school the bars were usually a darker color, although I believe this is the exact recipe.

  • I'm not sure why they are called crunch bars, as there is really no crunch. Did we mix them too well?

  • Another idea I had is to add M&Ms on top...which would taste like monster cookie bars!

Thanks to Lauren for sharing this recipe with me!

recipes, lifestyleKelsey1 Comment