Peanut Butter Bars

These are just like the ones the school used to make, but with chocolate icing instead of peanut butter. If you find a good peanut butter icing recipe and try it with that let me know, I'd love to make it that way sometime but I don't know how to make peanut butter icing. Here's a picture, just for fun.

 

We usually half the recipe and make it in a 9x13 pan but we have made the whole thing on a jelly roll pan as well.

Peanut Butter Bars
1 1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1 1/2 c. white sugar
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
3/4 t. salt
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. vanilla
2 1/3 c. flour
3 c. oats (regular or quick)

Cream the shortening, peanut butter, sugars and eggs together until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until incorporated. Spread into a greased cookie sheet (jelly roll size) until even on all sides (batter will be thick, you may need to use a fork to press down). Bake at 325 for 13 minutes (bar will seem under done, but will firm up as it sits). This recipe makes a large batch, it can be halved and put in a 9x13 pan if you would prefer.
Chocolate Frosting
1 stick butter
1 t. vanilla
Dash of salt
1/2 c. cocoa powder
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. milk

Beat the butter, cocoa powder, and milk together until smooth and soft. Add the powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla and continue to beat until fluffy and smooth. Spread a thin layer or frosting over the cooled peanut butter bars.