Oatmeal Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
If you love a peanut butter & jelly sandwich you are going to love these easy peanut butter cookie bars. The addition of oatmeal gives these bars great texture and the jam layer makes this sweet treat a family favorite!
Why I love this recipe
Peanut butter and jelly was my favorite childhood sandwich. I lived on them when I was pregnant for our first child. Is it crazy to say they are still one of my comfort foods? My favorite is crunchy peanut butter with strawberry preserves on soft wheat bread. In the shower today, I guesstimated, that I have made somewhere in the vicinity of 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunches this school year! That does not include the peanut butter that is eaten on toast, waffles, bagels, and plopped in smoothies, or used in savory dishes like Chicken Satay. This family puts down the smashed peanuts! So it’s no surprise that these peanut butter and jelly bars don’t last long around here.
Gather these ingredients
These bars are so quick and easy to make, a few simple ingredients is all that’s needed. As you know peanut butter comes in many forms, as does jam and preserves. I have used just about every variety of peanut butter; all natural peanut butter, creamy peanut butter (like JIF), and crunchy or chunky peanut butter and they all work equally well. As far as the jam layer goes strawberry jam is our favorite jam. Use whatever your favorite may be; grape jelly, peach or raspberry preserves; they all work perfectly.
These bars are ooey gooey and delicious! That is why it’s best to line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper so you can lift them right out, and cut them into perfect to handle squares. If you do not have parchment then make sure that you spray the baking dish with nonstick spray. I like to wrap these in individually in plastic wrap and freezer them for lunches or be sure to store in an airtight container.
This is how to make this peanut butter & jelly bar recipe
Add butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar to your bowl (or the bowl of an electric mixer using paddle attachment), cream ingredients together until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined, scrape bottom of bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
Press 2/3 of the cookie dough into parchment lined pan and spread jam in an even layer over bottom crust. Ignore this photo, I had not learned the parchment paper trick yet, new photo needs to be taken asap!
Break the remaining dough into small pieces and drob over the jelly layer. That’s it! So easy. Now pop in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 40 minutes. ** If you want to add an extra crunch layer you can sprinkle an 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts over the top before baking.
Like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in bar form these peanut butter jelly bars make the perfect after school snack. I love to have one with my midday cup of coffee! Don’t forget to show the love by giving me all the stars in the recipe card and sharing on your socials! XO Enjoy! Sheila
Oatmeal Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Equipment
- 8×8 cake pan
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter cut into pieces
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup fruit jam, jelly, or preserves any flavor you like
- 1/2 cup (optional) chopped salted peanuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper. Or grease with butter pan well.
- In the bowl of electric mixer blend butter and brown sugar with paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy.
- Add peanut butter to butter and sugar and mix until fluffy.
- Measure flour, oatmeal, baking powder, and salt into a bowl toss together, then gradually add to the wet ingredient. When combined, scrape down sides of bowl.
- Scoop 2/3 of the cookie dough into prepared pan, press down into a smooth even layer.
- Spread an even layer of fruit jam over cookie layer. Dollop pieces of the remaining cookie dough over jam. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes. ** sprinkle with chopped peanuts if you like
I just found your site through the Pioneer Woman Giveaway shin-dig and I am in love. This recipe actually looks a lot like one of my favorite PW recipes: Creamy Lemon Crumble Bars. As PB&J’s are seriously one of my favorite foods (sad but true for a food blogger haha) I HAVE to make these!
Thank you for this recipe. : ) I used 1 1/2 sticks of butter, like commenter Bobbie. Next time I’ll use 1 cup of strawberry jam for the jam/jelly layer. I used orange marmalade that I had on hand–probably not the best flavor combination but still good.
I already know my boys are going to die over this!! What an awesome recipe! We’d love for you to link it to our recipe party!
http://housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com/2012/03/recipe-round-up-7.html
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy! These will make me very happy after easter. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve got a jar of homemade strawberry jam that has its eyes on this recipe. Yum!
I couldnt wait. making them tonight. is the butter right? 1 3/4 cup butter? 3 1/2 sticks of butter? That just seems like a whole lot for this?!
OH my goodness so glad you caught that NO 1 and 3/4 sticks. Fixing NOW. YIKes!
Thanks! I thought it couldnt be 1 3/4 cups. Last night I made them with 1 1/2 stick butter and they were delicious! Cut some up and packaged for a friend and ate some myself for breakfast and after lunch snack. Cant stay out of them!!
Oh my goodness, I wish I could have one of these right now, how fun!
Its un-natural how much I love peanut butter. Im on the schedule to bring food to a family at church next Friday. These will betucked in with the beef stew.
Okay that first picture made me laugh! My daughter eats that same sandwich every Every EVERY single day in her lunch. No joke. Will not touch lunchmeat of any kind. So you know I’ve gotta make these pb&j bars for her!!!! Can’t wait. She will love you for this recipe!