Back Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Feed your hungry kids when they get home from school by preparing some of these delectable peanut butter and jelly bars! A healthy spin on a classic childhood recipe, these bars are delicious and easy to make. From out friends at I Am Baker, your child will devour these after school snacks in a flash!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup chunky peanut butter
• ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 jar (18 ounces) strawberry preserves, approximately 1 ½ cups
• ½ cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together both kinds of peanut butter, butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a handheld mixer on medium speed until well blended.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; mix into the creamed mixture.
5. Spread ⅔ of the peanut butter dough onto the bottom of the 9×13-inch pan.
6. Spread the preserves evenly over the bottom layer of dough.
7. Dollop the remaining dough evenly over the top of the preserves.
8. Top with the chopped peanuts.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
10. Let cool completely before serving.