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Recipes » Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

By Kate Morgan Jackson

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This easy recipe for peanut butter and jelly bars takes your favorite sandwich and turns it into an irresisible dessert. Or maybe a midnight snack? One way or the other, it will bring out the kid in you!

A little while ago I woke up with a deep yearning to make a cookie-like dessert that wasn’t a regular cookie.  I was torn between making mini lemon meringue pies and making peanut butter and jelly bars.  So I went over to the Framed Cooks Facebook page and asked folks to help me decide.  The mini lemon meringue pies won in a landslide, and so that’s what I made that day, and if you’d like to take a look at these cute little pies, click here.

However, the minority voters for the pb&j bars were passionately enthusiastic.  (These voters included the teenager, who is away at college.  She voted for the pb&j bars, but then told me I wasn’t allowed to make them since she wasn’t home to eat them.  This is the kind of input I’m not sure what to do with.)

Anyway, I couldn’t leave the pb&j fans hanging, and so please don’t tell the teenager, but I went ahead and made ’em.  A whole, glorious 13×9 inch pan of ’em.

 

 

Obviously, this recipe calls for both peanut butter and jelly, and I have strong feelings about both.  For the peanut butter, it’s Skippy all the way.  Other members of my household feel the same way I do.

(Don’t you just hate it when you are licking out the empty peanut butter jar and you can’t quite reach all the way to the bottom of it?  It’s SO frustrating.  Jeesh.)

As for the jam, there is only one jam for me in the entire world, and that is the jam from Stonewall Kitchen. Those jams have ruined all other jam for me for all eternity.  I used their red raspberry jam for this particular recipe, but I always have at least three or four jars of all their flavors in my fridge at all times, including this guy.

Anyway, this recipe calls for making a completely decadent peanut buttery/regular buttery dough, spreading most of it in a parchment-lined pan (don’t skip the parchment, it will make your life SO much easier when it comes time to take these OUT of the pan), spreading lots of jam over the dough, dropping big clumps of the rest of the dough on top of the jam, and then scattering chopped peanuts over the whole thing.  

Trust me when I say you should cut them into the smallest squares possible.  I cut them into 12 large squares, then once they were out of the pan and cooled down I cut those squares into halves or quarters.  A little of this pb&j scrumptiousness goes a long way.

So, my beloved pb&j fans, this one’s for you!  And I guess I will make them again when a certain someone is home from college…because no matter how old you get, there’s always time for pb&j.

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars


  • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 60 minutes
  • Yield: 12 to 24 bars, depending on how small you cut them. 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This easy recipe for peanut butter and jelly bars takes your favorite sandwich and turns it into an irresisible dessert. Or maybe a midnight snack?


Ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups jam (your choice of flavor!)
  • 1/2 cups salted peanuts, chopped into small pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350.
  2. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper, and then spray the parchment with cooking spray and flour it.
  3. Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs, vanilla and peanut butter and mix until combined.
  4. Sift the flour and baking powder together. Turn the mixer back on to low speed and add the flour mixture until just combined.
  5. Spread 2/3 of the dough into the baking pan, spreading to the edges (use your hands, it’s easiest that way!) Spread the jam evenly over the dough.
  6. Drop small chunks of the remaining dough over the jam. You’ll have some spots where the jam shows through, but don’t worry about that. Scatter the peanuts over the top and bake for 45 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.
  7. Cool completely and then cut into squares.
38024.7 g137.4 mg20.7 g7.4 g0 g43.7 g2 g7.8 g35.7 mg

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Recipe adapted just slightly from Ina Garten’s version

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Kate Morgan Jackson

Hi there!  I’m Kate, and I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover.  I started Framed Cooks in 2009, and my mission is to create and share family-friendly recipes that make cooking both easy and fun…yes, I said FUN!  My kitchen is my happy place, and I want yours to be that place too.  And if you make this recipe, I would love you to tag @FramedCooks on Instagram so I can see the deliciousness!as seen in logos

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Published on February 23, 2012

Good for: Birthday Party, Christmas/Holidays

Last Post:
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  1. Joanne says

    February 23, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    I’m so glad you decided to make these! They really are one of my favorite bar recipes. I will never get too old for PB+J. Ever.

    And I’ll be a skippy diehard till the end!

    Reply
    • Greta says

      September 5, 2012 at 11:19 am

      I read your post and weihsd I was good enough to write it

      Reply
  2. Kris says

    February 24, 2012 at 5:55 am

    Those bars look FANTASTIC – I’ve been looking for something that’s “just right” for the office.

    I do want to add, though, that “choosy moms choose Jif” — and my guy’s tongue doesn’t reach quite to the bottom of the jar either!

    http://darksideofthefridge.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/monday-musings-02-20-2012/

    (PS I’m glad I’m not the only one who gives the dog the empty PB jar to clean out!)

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 24, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      I actually save my empty pb jars for when I need to distract her for a while…they can keep her busy for 30 minutes or so! Love the picture of your beautiful doggie.

      Reply
  3. Miss McBooty says

    February 24, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    I need a dog…

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 24, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      You do!!! :)

      Reply
  4. Jcm says

    February 25, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    Thanks for this! Question: how much salt? I just made them (waiting for them to cool) and guessed 1/2 tsp. Thought I would check!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 25, 2012 at 9:42 pm

      Jcm: I’m so glad you pointed this out, because I decided as I was making them that I wouldn’t add any salt due to the salt in the peanuts themselves, so I need to fix the recipe – thank you! But I’m sure that 1/2 teaspoon will be still work just fine and you will love them. Happy pb&j bars!

      Reply
  5. Maria says

    February 26, 2012 at 9:44 am

    These have been on my to do list! Your photos just put them at the top of the list! YUM!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 26, 2012 at 11:19 am

      Thanks Maria! They *were* delicious little guys…like the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich you can imagine, only better! :) Happy Sunday.

      Reply
  6. Nicki says

    February 29, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    These look amazing!! I have a huge tub of peanut butter (that’s what happens when the man goes shopping BIG containers of everything!!) and have been wanting to do something with it!! And these look AMAZING!!! I’m new at baking, so I ask a lot of questions. How much baking powder do I use? All I see is an ” i ” Thanks!! Can’t wait to try them~

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 29, 2012 at 6:00 pm

      Oh gosh, that’s my horrible typing skills at work again! It’s 1 (as in one!) teaspoon baking powder – thanks Nicki and have fun!

      Reply
  7. abundantc says

    March 4, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    Just made these and they are delicious. Thanks for posting the recipe.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      March 4, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      You are so welcome!

      Reply
  8. ellie says

    March 24, 2012 at 11:10 pm

    seriously, wickedly delicious! i made some for at home and just made a pan for a party. lots of happy people! great share. thanks so much. and i have to say that giving out your blog addy is a whole lot more fun than giving out the recipe. it’s like teaching a man to fish…they get way more than they asked for! keep rocking it, chick!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      March 25, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      Keep giving that address out – big hug to you! :)

      Reply
  9. Melissa says

    April 9, 2012 at 7:10 am

    THEY LOOK AMAAAZINGG! YUMSS! GOTTA TRY THEM ONE DAY!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 9, 2012 at 5:25 pm

      You definitely do – one day SOON! :)

      Reply
  10. Rachel says

    April 13, 2012 at 12:23 am

    This recipe came from Ina Garten. Let’s give her credit for this and no one else!

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
    Ina Garten

    2005, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved

    Show: Barefoot Contessa

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/peanut-butter-and-jelly-bars-recipe/index.html

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 13, 2012 at 6:18 am

      Yes, it absolutely did (as you’ll see from the link to her original recipe right under the post)…I just adapted the directions a little bit to match the way I made it. Love Ina Garten!

      Reply
  11. Shannon @ RecipesMe says

    April 19, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    My daughter would love these P B & J Bars!!!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 21, 2012 at 9:28 am

      She would!! (And you will too, I promise!) :)

      Reply
  12. Jmposti4 says

    April 25, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    Kate they are out of the oven my house smells insane! I can’t wait to cut in to these babies!! Thank you
    Side note my dog wouldn’t touch the pb jar. Go figure.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 26, 2012 at 2:43 pm

      Aren’t they crazily good? I can’t keep them in my house for fear of eating them ALL! And you can send me your empty pb jars…as you can see, I have a willing customer. :) :)

      Reply
  13. Megan says

    September 12, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    Do you know if these work with WW flour? Trying it now so I guess we shall see. Also wondering if you could sub honey for sugar. PB and honey are yummy together anyway. Just trying to make them slightly healthier for my little peanut lovers!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      September 17, 2012 at 7:54 am

      I’m sure they would work with WW flour. As for the honey, that I’m not sure about since you’d be swapping a liquid for a solid. But if you try it will you let us know? :)

      Reply
  14. Maya says

    April 2, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    Hello,

    Is a mixer absolutely necessary in this recipe? Could I achieve the same results by hand mixing? Or an emulsion blender?

    Thanks! These look delicious!

    Reply
  15. [email protected] et Langevin says

    March 16, 2016 at 1:00 am

    Easy and simple. Excited to try! my son will definitely love this one ;)

    Reply
    • Kate says

      March 18, 2016 at 7:20 am

      I know he will! Happy baking!

      Reply

Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. I’m so glad you’re here!

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