Name: PB&J Bars
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed; 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 2 eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cup white, all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 3/4 cup raspberry jelly*; 1/2 cup rolled oats; 2 tbsp peanuts

This past weekend was a very special occasion! We got to meet our new (and only) nephew, Paxton Bennett Jordan, for the first time! He flew with his mom and dad from their home in San Francisco to my parent’s house in Connecticut and we were able to make the trip up to visit for the weekend.

He’s just the cutest little pumpkin and we love him so much already! I got to feed him a bottle, give him a bath and let him snuggle with me while he had a nap 🙂 All of the fun, little baby things while somehow escaping changing any dirty diapers, 😉

He actually just turned 3-months old today! Happy 3-months Paxton 🙂

We didn’t know what they were going to name him and he made a late arrival, so we were waiting and guessing name after name, but none of us came up with Paxton. As soon as we heard the news of his arrival we quickly realized his initials were just the cutest thing ever – PBJ, Peanut Butter & Jelly 🙂 Maybe later in life he won’t think it’s so cute, but for now it’s adorable.

My brother and sister-in-law said it wasn’t their intention to have his initials be PBJ when they were deciding on his name, but they did realize it once the name was selected and they think it’s pretty cute too 😉

So today, in celebration of meeting little PBJ I’m sharing these Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars!

The base is a thick layer of peanut butter bar, topped with a layer of raspberry jelly and finished off with a crunchy topping.

They make a good dessert or afternoon snack. Though PB&Js are generally thought of as kid’s food, these bars will be loved by people of all ages!

PB&J Bars

Author: Chocolate Covered Cheetah

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup white, all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup raspberry jelly*
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp peanuts

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350°F
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with blade attachment, beat butter and sugar on high about 2 minutes until fluffy
Add peanut butter, mix until well combined
Add eggs 1 at a time
Add vanilla, mix
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt
Slowly add dry mixture to mixing bowl, mix until just fully combined
Set aside 1 cup of dough
Press remaining dough into a greased 8X8 inch baking pan
Spread an even layer of jelly on top of dough
Mix oats into remaining dough
Sprinkle oat/dough mixture over top of the jam
Sprinkle with peanuts
Bake for 15-18 minutes until bars are set and topping is starting to brown
Remove from oven, cool
Slice into bars