Go Back Email Link
Print Pin

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

These Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars are made with a crunchy peanut butter cookie base, filled with a strawberry jam, and topped with a shortbread crumb topping. They are the perfect all around afternoon snack, or anytime dessert. For the peanut butter bars
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword peanut butter, jell, bars, shortbread
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Author Molly Murphy

Ingredients

For the peanut butter bars

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cup strawberry jam or flavor of your choice

For the shortbread crumb topping

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter
  • 1 egg beaten
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the peanut butter bars.

  • Preheat the oven to 325 and line an 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper and spray the parchment paper with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined. Whisk in the peanut butter. Whisk vigorously for about 30-45 seconds.
  • Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Whisk them together.
  • Switch to a rubber spatula, fold in the flour, salt, and baking powder.
  • Evenly press the dough into the prepared pan. Add the jam, and use the back of a spoon to evenly spread it on top of the peanut butter bars. Set aside while you make the shortbread crumb topping.

For the crumb topping

  • In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and baking powder. Set aside.
  • If you have a food processor, add the flour mixture and the cold butter and mix it until it turns into coarse crumbs.
  • If you don’t have a food processor, use a pastry cutter and cut the butter into the flour mixture until it turns into coarse crumbs.
  • Add the egg and blend until it fully comes together. If you need to break up some bigger pieces, just use your fingers to break them up.
  • Add the crumbs to the top of the jam and bake for 40-50 minutes. The top should start turning light brown. A toothpick inserted should come out with little, to no, crumbs.