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PB&J Bars Recipe Easy Homemade Classic Lunchbox Dessert Idea

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A nostalgic and simple dessert inspired by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, featuring a buttery shortbread base, a sweet jelly layer, and a creamy peanut butter topping. Perfect for quick, crowd-pleasing treats.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (250g)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (250g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks / 225g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
  • 3/4 cup strawberry or raspberry jelly (240 ml)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (2g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (1.5g)

Instructions

  1. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper. Measure out dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt) and wet ingredients (butter, peanut butter, sugar, vanilla).
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt to distribute leavening evenly.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter, peanut butter, and sugar with a sturdy spoon or electric mixer on low speed until smooth and creamy.
  4. Stir in vanilla extract, then gradually fold in dry ingredients until dough is thick and slightly sticky.
  5. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, firm but not compacted.
  6. Spread jelly evenly over the crust layer, keeping it an even layer without mixing into the dough.
  7. Crumble the remaining dough into small chunks and sprinkle evenly over the jelly layer without pressing down.
  8. Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 30-35 minutes until top is golden brown and edges pull slightly away from the pan.
  9. Cool completely on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before slicing to allow jelly to set and crust to firm.

Notes

Use thick jelly or jam to prevent sogginess. Cool bars completely before slicing for clean cuts. Use creamy peanut butter without oil separation for best texture. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerated up to 5 days. Not recommended to freeze.

Nutrition

Keywords: PB&J bars, peanut butter and jelly dessert, lunchbox dessert, easy homemade bars, nostalgic dessert, peanut butter bars, jelly bars

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/pb-and-j-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-classic-lunchbox-dessert-idea/