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
Yield: 12 to 24 bars, depending on how small you cut them.
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 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
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper, and then spray the parchment with cooking spray and flour it.
- 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.
- Sift the flour and baking powder together. Turn the mixer back on to low speed and add the flour mixture until just combined.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool completely and then cut into squares.
Recipe adapted just slightly from Ina Garten’s version
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!
I read your post and weihsd I was good enough to write it
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!)
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.
I need a dog…
You do!!! 🙂
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!
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!
These have been on my to do list! Your photos just put them at the top of the list! YUM!
Thanks Maria! They *were* delicious little guys…like the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich you can imagine, only better! 🙂 Happy Sunday.
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~
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!
Just made these and they are delicious. Thanks for posting the recipe.
You are so welcome!
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!
Keep giving that address out – big hug to you! 🙂
THEY LOOK AMAAAZINGG! YUMSS! GOTTA TRY THEM ONE DAY!
You definitely do – one day SOON! 🙂
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
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!
My daughter would love these P B & J Bars!!!
She would!! (And you will too, I promise!) 🙂
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.
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. 🙂 🙂
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!
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? 🙂
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!
Easy and simple. Excited to try! my son will definitely love this one 😉
I know he will! Happy baking!