Peanut Butter & Jelly bars are one of my favorite alternatives to plain peanut butter cookies and a delicious treat to send with your kids lunches or in my case to your husband’s office! They’re cakey while being fudgy because they have 2 full cups of peanut butter. The strawberry jelly is a contrast to the richness of the bar and the top is topped with chopped peanuts. Pour yourself a giant glass of milk, these bars are going to make your day! I mean, c’mon, look at this amazingness… 
If my introduction wasn’t enough of a motivating factor in getting you to make these pb&j bars, then the fact that they are an Ina Garten recipe should push you off the fence and into the kitchen immediately. I’ve been a long time fan of Ina’s recipes and on special occasions when I need something beautiful, down to earth, easy and indulgent I reach for her recipes. With two sticks of butter and two cups of peanut butter these bars are definitely a “sometime” treat (Cookie Monster reference anyone?) but they are so incredibly rich that you won’t need a big piece to feel completely satisfied. I cut these into 32 pieces and still felt like it was the perfect amount with my morning cup of coffee. The plate from my husband’s office came home empty too, so I guess that is another 30 or so thumbs up too! Let’s not waste another moment! Onto the baking!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 13 by 2-inch cake pan with baking spray.
Using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes.
Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are combined. 
Tons and tons of peanut butter! In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the stand mixer just until everything is just combined. Spread 2/3 of the dough into the pan evenly, I used a spatula to do this. 
Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Tear off bits of dough and got it over the jam evenly. 
Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
- 2 cups (18 ounces) creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups (18 ounces) strawberry jam or jelly
- 2/3 cups peanuts , coarsely chopped (I used honey roasted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 9 by 13 by 2-inch cake pan with baking spray.
- Using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes.
- Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix until all ingredients are combined.
- In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the stand mixer just until everything is just combined.
- Spread 2/3 of the dough into the pan evenly, I used a spatula to do this.
- Spread the jam evenly over the dough.
- Tear off bits of dough and got it over the jam evenly.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
Nutrition
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These bars are VERY rich, if you want something more cakey, try reducing the peanut butter to one cup. Want to try different variations? Replace the jelly with Nutella (I know, already rich and I am making them even more rich…but hey sometimes I just go for it!) or change up the flavors of jelly. I topped mine with honey roasted peanuts, you can add other toppings as well. Want even MORE peanut butter? Top with peanut butter chips.
This sounds so good, Im going to have to make a few for the boychild. I know he would love them.
Awesome! I hope he loves them!
This looks and sounds like a really yummy recipe! Thanks for sharing!
My kids are head over heels for PB! I have everything to make these today for there first after school snack of the year!
Wonderful! I hope they love them!
Gotta love the flavors of good ole PBJ. These bars sound delicious!
Those do sound pretty delicious to me too. A great way to incorporate the two faves.
OK so I am totally singing Peanut Butter Jelly Time! Peanut Butter Jelly Time in my head right now! You are welcome to my house anytime as I do not bake. I’ll do pretty much anything else in the kitchen but I do not bake! Sounds like your hubby’s co-workers are lucky!
Thanks Tracy! He does get a lot of brownie points with my efforts!
Those look delicious! Now I gotta go make some 🙂
Yes! Then come back and tell me what you thought of it!
OMG, my nephew would love these! They look so easy to do too.
They really were! I hope he loves them if you get to make them 🙂
Oh man these bars look crazy delicious!
Oh those sure sound delicious! Will have to add those to my recipe list to try. Peanut butter is my favorite treat… in anything!
Hope you love it!
This looks so yummy. My kids would love these. I will have to try making them on my Baking day.
Awesome!
Those would be a great treat for all of us. Who says peanut butter & jelly is just for kids?!?!
Thanks! I love pb&j too 🙂
I will never outgrow my pb & j love. These look so amazing!
These sound delicious! I love peanut butter and jelly- especially strawberry jelly!
These sound so good! They would be great in a lunch bag for back to school.
I just demo-ed these last night at a back to school parent’s night!
These look fantastic. I’ve never been a peanut butter and jelly girl, but I would definitely try these.
They won’t disappoint!
One of my favorite snacks is a PB&J sandwish. My kids would go crazy for these bars!
I hope they love it!
This classic combo always sounds good. I’d be so happy to make some of these as a special treat.
oooh the nutella version sounds great! I would try them both ways.
I know, right? Who wouldn’t go nuts for pb and nutella?
These look so yummy. I love any dessert with peanut butter in it. Thanks for the recipe.
My pleasure!
That looks so delicious. I would enjoy that breakfast, lunch and a snack.
You have the right idea, haha!
Your pictures are great! I am pinning this to a new board I’m creating. I’m trying to find healthier foods for my kids and this seems like something they’d eat and it’s not full of crap.
Thanks Aimee! I fully believe I can make all my favorite store bought/restaurant meals without all the extra “stuff” in it. It is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen!
These look delicious. My son loves peanut butter and jelly.
Umm, YUM!!! What kid or adult wouldn’t want to gobble those up quickly? Thanks for the delicious recipe!
I sent them to my husband’s office and made a batch for a back to school night event. Adults devoured them!
I’m always looking for a homemade treat to take my family in Las Vegas. You’ve just provided the perfect one with the Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam/Jelly Bars. This is going to be fun to make.
Awesome! Thanks so much Ora!
Holy. Moly. I need that in me immediately! This is the best use of peanut butter and jelly I’ve seen in forever!
Aww thanks Stacie!
These are awesome. My kids will love These!
These look so rich and gorgeous.
Thanks Monique!
pb&j is always a classic!! love these for lunch boxes
I cut up servings and toss into tupperware in the freezer. Then you can enjoy them every so often in your lunches. 🙂
I LOVE Ina Garten, too! These look so decadent and yummy. I bet my kids would love them. Pinning so I can add it to our back-to-school snack rotation!
Thanks for the pin Marlynn! I love her too 🙂
These sound amazing. I love Ina Garten too.
Thanks Christie!