Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars is a retro vintage recipe from days gone by. These delectable bars have a soft chewy peanut butter bar with oatmeal topped with organic peanut butter and chocolate frosting. Needless to say, this classic treat used to be made in public schools back in the days when everything was made from scratch. Indeed, this is one of my favorite treats ever. Years ago these were popular treats at potlucks, PTA’s, and church functions. 
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars:
I remember these bars so well from my Jr. High School days. If you have never had one of these bars you are in for a treat. If you haven’t had one in years now is the time to make them. What’s better than Peanut Butter and Chocolate? For me the answer is nothing. With school about to start up again, why not make a batch for an after-school treat?
It should be noted that it is also known as Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars or Lunchroom Lady Peanut Butter Bars. Public schools all over the USA used to make them. Hence they are made in a half-sheet pan. As a result, these scrumptious bars will feed a crowd. Although this snack also freezes well. Consequently, I like to cut them into smaller bars as this recipe makes 48 bars. However, you could cut them bigger. This is my gluten-free version of old school favorite. Not to mention this snack will take you on a trip down memory lane.
Chef Notes for Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars:
Believe it or not, my daughter’s boyfriend is allergic to all nuts but peanuts. Therefore, I wanted to make him a treat he could enjoy with us. Additionally, I like to add espresso powder to my chocolate frosting as it helps to heighten the cholate flavor. Incredibly, the flavor is similar to a Peanut Butter Cup but homemade. Nevertheless, it is a quick and easy recipe.
Needless to say, it is dairy-free, grain-grain, and refined sugar-free as well. In any event, they are the perfect recipe for large families or when you are feeding a crowd or a family reunion.
Make them for your kids to enjoy an after-school snack.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup monk fruit sweetener
- 3/4 cup maple sugar
- 1 tsp powdered vanilla monk fruit
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups organic peanut butter
- 1 cup peanut flour or nut flour of choice
- 1 cup cassava flour
- 2 cups gluten-free oats
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
Directions:
First, preheat the oven to 350. Second, place parchment into the bottom of a half-sheet pan (“13x 8×1” inch pan). Thirdly, oil the parchment. Second, in a stand mixer blend together coconut oil, monk fruit sweetener, maple sugar, and powdered vanilla monk fruit sweetener. Next, blend in the eggs, and 1 cup of peanut butter. Finally, in a separate bowl combine peanut flour, cassava flour, oats, salt, and baking soda.
Lastly, add the flour mixture with the peanut butter mixture. Spread the dough out evenly on the bottom of the sheet pan and press down on the ingredients. Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
Carefully remove the pan and place it on a cooling rack. Next, carefully drop the remaining peanut butter by tablespoon fulls all over the top. Wait 3-4 minutes and gently spread all over the top with an offset spatula. It will spread easier when it began to melt a little from the heat of the bars. Allow the bars to cool and the peanut butter to set. Finally, make the frosting.
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla
- 3 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp espresso powder
- 2 1/2 cup powdered Monk Sweetener
- 1/4 cup nut milk of choice
Directions
First, cream coconut oil, vanilla, cocoa powder, and espresso. Once blended add in the monk fruit sweetener and blend. If too thick add in a tablespoon of nut milk at a time until the right consistency is gained.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Bars Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp pure vanilla
- 3/4 cup monk fruit sweetener
- 3/4 cup maple sugar
- 1 tsp powdered vanilla monk fruit find the recipe on my blog
- 2 whole eggs
- 2 cup organic peanut butter
- 1 cup peanut flour or nut flour of choice
- 1 cup cassava flour
- 2 cups gluten-free oats
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
Chocolate Frosting
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla
- 3 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp powdered expresso
- 2 1/2 cups powdered Monk Fruit
- 1/4 cup nut milk of choice
Instructions
Peanut Butter Bars
- First, preheat the oven to 350.
- Second, place parchment into the bottom of a half sheet pan ("13x 8x1" inch pan).
- Thirdly, oil the parchment.
- In a stand mixer blend together coconut oil, monk fruit sweetener, maple sugar, vanilla, and powdered vanilla monk fruit sweetener.3/4 cup coconut oil, 3/4 cup monk fruit sweetener, 3/4 cup maple sugar, 1 tsp powdered vanilla monk fruit, 1 tsp pure vanilla
- Next, blend in the eggs, and 1 cup of peanut butter.2 cup organic peanut butter, 2 whole eggs
- Finally, in a separate bowl combine peanut flour, cassava flour, oats, salt, and baking soda.1 cup peanut flour or nut flour of choice, 1 cup cassava flour, 2 cups gluten-free oats, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder
- Lastly, add the flour mixture with the peanut butter mixture.
- Spread the dough out evenly on the bottom of the sheet pan and press down on the ingredients.
- Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove the pan and place it on a cooling rack.
- Next, carefully drop the remaining peanut butter by tablespoon fulls all over the top.
- Wait 3-4 minutes and gently spread all over the top with an offset spatula.
- It will spread easier when it began to melt a little from the heat of the bars.
- Allow the bars to cool and the peanut butter to set.
- Finally, make the frosting.
Chocolate Frosting
- First, cream coconut oil, vanilla, cocoa powder, and espresso.1/2 cup coconut oil, 2 tsp pure vanilla, 3 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp powdered expresso
- Once blended add in the monk fruit sweetener and blend.2 1/2 cups powdered Monk Fruit
- If too thick add in a tablespoon of nut milk at a time until the right consistency is gained.1/4 cup nut milk of choice
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 48.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| Calories 135 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 9 g | 14 % |
| Saturated Fat 4 g | 20 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 8 mg | 3 % |
| Sodium 68 mg | 3 % |
| Potassium 50 mg | 1 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 9 g | 3 % |
| Dietary Fiber 2 g | 9 % |
| Sugars 3 g | |
| Protein 5 g | 10 % |
| Vitamin A | 0 % |
| Vitamin C | 0 % |
| Calcium | 1 % |
| Iron | 5 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Nutrition
For other after-school snacks
Had no idea that peanut flour existed. Love that the bars are guten free. Sounds really delicious. Hope to try these someday.
Kevin, I believe any nut can be turned into flour. Peanut flour is not often used in baked goods unless you want a peanut flavor. It is a wonderful treat to have on hand. Plus it can be frozen. Have a wonderful day.