Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars — Soft and chewy PEANUT BUTTERY bars topped with strawberry jelly and a crispy oatmeal crumble topping!! Easy, no-mixer recipe that’ll be your new FAVORITE way to eat PB&J!!
Best Peanut Butter and Jelly Dessert
There’s nothing like the combination of peanut butter and jelly. So classic and perfect.
But when you combine peanut butter and jelly in dessert form and add a crumble topping, it’s even better.
The bars were a hit with kids and adults alike. I gave half the batch to a friend who declared them amazing and my family was begging for more after they demolished theirs.
It’ll be your new favorite way to eat PB&J.
Ingredients in Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
I love how quick and easy this peanut butter and jelly recipe is! As a bonus, it uses very basic ingredients I bet you have in your pantry:
- Unsalted butter
- Creamy peanut butter
- Egg
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Rolled oats
- Granulated sugar
- Strawberry jelly
For the jelly layer, I used Smuckers Fruit and Honey Strawberry Fruit Spread.
I love that it’s sweetened with honey and has a very short ingredients list. It’s wonderfully sweet and worked perfectly in the bars!
It spreads very easily which is especially nice here because the base layer bakes for 15 minutes and then you add the jelly and crumble topping. Having something that’s very easy to spread on tender, half-baked bars is a baker’s bonus.
How to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
This peanut butter and jelly dessert comes together in no time at all! Here are the basic recipe steps:
- Make the bars: In the microwave or on the stovetop, melt the butter. Then, add the peanut butter and heat for 30 seconds to soften. Whisk until smooth and combined.
- Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined.
- Turn batter out into a foil-lined 8×8-inch pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- Make the crumble topping: Melt the butter, then add the flour, oats, sugars, salt, and stir to combine.
- After bars have baked for 15 minutes, remove pan from the oven, and spread the jelly in an even flat layer over the surface.
- Evenly sprinkle with the crumble topping mixture.
- Return pan to oven and bake until crumble topping is lightly golden browned and set.
FAQs
No! Don’t use quick cook or instant oats for the topping. They’re finer and behave like flour, which will make mixture too dry.
Of course! I love using strawberry jelly in this PB&J bars, but you may use any flavor of jam or jelly you like.
No, you can omit the crumble topping altogether if desired. In which case, you might just want to swirl the jelly into the bars before baking.
Most likely, yes. You can double the ingredients and then bake in a 9×13-inch pan.
Tips for Making PB&J Bars
Use a creamy, no-stir peanut butter for this recipe. Natural peanut butters tend to separate and can result in oily baked goods.
I recommend lining your pan with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. You don’t have to line your pan, but you DO need to grease it with non-stick spray at the very least.
Let the bars cool for about 90 minutes before slicing. The jelly needs times to cool and set up.
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Ingredients
Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, melted
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to tast
Crumble Topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, half of 1 stick, melted
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup old-fashioned whole-rolled oats, don’t use quick cook or instant, they’re finer and behave like flour and will make mixture too dry
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- one 9-ounce jar Smuckers Fruit and Honey Strawberry Fruit Spread
Instructions
Bars
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
- Add the peanut butter and heat for 30 seconds to soften. Whisk the butter and peanut butter mixture until smooth and combined.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. While bars bake, make the crumble topping.
Crumble Topping
- To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
- Add the flour, oats, sugars, salt, and stir to combine. Mixture will be dry and sandy with some larger, well-formed crumble pieces; set aside.
- After bars have baked for 15 minutes, remove pan from the oven, and spread the fruit spread in an even flat layer over the surface, leaving a 1/2-inch bare margin at the edges.
- Evenly sprinkle with the crumble topping mixture.
- Return pan to oven and bake for about 25 to 28 minutes, or until crumble topping is lightly golden browned and set.
- Place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 90 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Post brought to you by Smuckers. The recipe, images, text, and opinions expressed are my own.
These we’re SO good, everyone loved them. I added a cup of chopped chocolate and it was perfect!
That sounds delicious! Glad you loved them!
looking forward to trying this recipe but was wondering – if I use fresh strawberries, should I roast them first? or just but them on top at the beginning and cook it with the bar the entire time? Thanks!
Haven’t tried it that way so really can’t advise you.
Can this recipe be doubled for a 13×9 pan?
I’m sure it can although I haven’t personally tried it.
Hi Averie, there used to be a time where I could comment more frequently in your site. I have been following you since the loveveggiesandyoga days. I still check your site multiple times every week. Your site is a part of my life.
You are so gifted. I made these bars and they came out beautifully. I make a lot of your recipes still, its just that I don’t get time to comment how good they turn it out. I am so ready for your pumpkin recipes this fall.
All the best
Love this dense, soft peanut butter blondie base! And you just cannot go wrong with crumble! Extra sugar and butter? Yes, please!
Thanks, Stephanie :)
these look SO good Averie!!!! love me a little jam + crumble in the am :)
hey girl these look amazing!
It is finally cooler and I can bake again! These bars are happening!
As always, Averie has the best bar recipes on her site! My favorite combo, by far, is PB&J. We have some friends coming over this weekend, and this may be the dessert we enjoy. Thanks for sharing :)
LMK if you try it! :)
I wasn’t aware that Smuckers had a honey-sweetened jam! Definitely need to go out and buy a bottle, then make these bars :)!! Jorge would love them.
It’s super tasty. I know you guys would love it!
You are so right! Nothing like putting classics together and making something DELISH! I could shovel a whole pan of these in my face right now! ;)
And I settled for a PB&J sandwich for lunch when I could have had these????
These look absoltuley amazing. Like, I’m actually drooling here at HQ. We can’t wait to make these and see how long they take to disappear from the office kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing,
xo,
The Newsette
http://www.thenewsette.com
These are the things that dreams are made of!! That blondie base is heaven by itself, but CRUMBLE???? OMG.
Thanks my friend :)
Crumble topping is the best–I can see why everyone loved these! I could have my PBJ in dessert form any time…and I need to look for the jelly you used because I haven’t noticed it yet but want to try it.
It’s such a great jelly, especially in these bars!
I’m so in love. You’ve married two of my favorite dessert things: PB and crumb. I mean, that’s about as heaven as it gets. These are crazy dangerous, in the best way ever!
Thanks, Mir! Glad it’s a perfect marriage for you :)