Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars.

If you want to relive your childhood, have one of these bars. They are basically a peanut butter and jelly explosion.

I binged on peanut butter and jelly in my preschool and kindergarten years. For years after, any combination of peanut butter + jelly was extremely unappealing.

I grew out of that phase at some point in highschool, rediscovering that joy that is peanut butter and jelly.

 

And then I rediscovered it again last night. Just check out how stacked these bars are.

The thick peanut butter layer on the bottom just melts in your mouth.

These bars are not for the faint of heart. You have to love peanut butter.

 

Mr. How Sweet agreed – they are super peanut-buttery. After we both decided that they were only ‘ok,’ we each closet-ate about 3 more bars.

When Mr. How Sweet is in the kitchen and I cannot hear a peep, I know he is shoveling cookies into his mouth while standing over the sink. He usually is also chugging some diet coke.

At that point I love to ask ‘what the heck are you doing in there that you are so quiet?!’ To which I know he cannot respond since he has a mouthful of cookies.

‘Twas the situation last night, but I joined in on the fun.

 

The final verdict? These bars are amazing.

At first we thought they may need more jelly, but after multiple tastings, we decided that they have the perfect amount.

 

A third of the dough gets crumbled on top of the jelly before baking, which gives the dense bar a nice crumbly top.

 

Topped with a sprinkling of peanuts, this bar is a must-have.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

from Martha Stewart

2 sticks butter, softened

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups jam (I used grape)

1 cup peanuts

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan – I used Pam baking spray and it worked perfectly.

Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and peanut butter until combined, about 2 minutes. Whisk together dry ingredients, adding to the butter mixture until just combined. Add vanilla.

Transfer two-thirds of mixture into baking dish, spreading evenly. Top with jam and spread to coat peanut butter mixture. Crumble remaining peanut butter mix on top. Sprinkle peanuts on top.

Bake until golden brown, 45-60 minutes. I baked for 45, tenting with foil after 20 minutes since the top was getting brown. Allow to cool for a few hours before cutting.

 

 

If you have a chance this week, give these bars a try. I think kids would love them, but I don’t know much about kids besides the lack of patience I have for them.

I know Mr. How Sweet loved them, and he is kind of like a big kid.

Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about peanut butter crumble crumbs getting stuck in his moustache, because he shaved it.

I went against every single thing I believe in and posted a picture. Hope you have a strong stomach.

Tagged as: cookies, peanut butter, recipes