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Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 18 reviews

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars combine the classic flavors of peanut butter and strawberry jam into an easy-to-make baked dessert. Featuring a buttery, peanut butter-infused crust topped with a sweet layer of strawberry jam and a crumbly peanut butter topping, these bars are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with a nostalgic twist.

Ingredients

Scale

Base and Topping

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

Filling

  • 2 cups strawberry jam

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal later.
  2. Cream Butter, Peanut Butter, and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes, using a mixer or a sturdy spoon.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to incorporate fully. Stir in the pure vanilla extract to enhance flavor.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
  5. Form Base Layer: Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish to create the base layer for the bars.
  6. Spread Jam Layer: Evenly spread the strawberry jam over the base layer, leaving the edges clear to prevent jam from leaking during baking.
  7. Create Top Layer: Crumble the remaining one-third of dough over the jam layer, creating a textured topping that will bake into a golden crust.
  8. Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is light golden brown and the bars are set.
  9. Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper overhang to gently lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

  • Use parchment paper lining to ensure easy removal and quick cleanup.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil or a dairy-free butter alternative.
  • If you have nut allergies, try substituting creamy peanut butter with almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
  • To make the bars gluten-free, replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or coconut flour, but adjust the flour quantity as these flours absorb liquids differently.
  • Feel free to swap strawberry jam with any fruit jam of your choice for a different flavor profile.
  • Keep an eye on the bars towards the end of baking to prevent over-browning.

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter bars, jelly bars, peanut butter and jelly dessert, baked peanut butter bars, chewy peanut butter bars

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/peanut-butter-and-jelly-bars-recipe/