• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
An Edible Mosaic™
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • swedish
    • tex mex
    • thai
    • west african
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • about
  • fall recipes
  • recipes
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • about
    • fall recipes
    • recipes
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Type » Desserts » Bars and Brownies

    Easy Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars (For the Kid in All of Us)

    Published: Aug 21, 2020 · Modified: Apr 18, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars feature a classic favorite flavor combination in a delicious nostalgic treat that's perfect for snacking or school lunches. They're gooey and rich with the perfect balance of nutty peanut butter and sweet strawberry jam. A buttery brown sugar oat crumble topping makes them even more irresistible!

    stack of pb and j bars

    When it comes to keeping packed lunches interesting, the struggle is real. As a kid I remember getting tired of nearly every type of sandwich my mom packed. And I was bored within the first month of school starting!

    But in my defense, the sandwich rotation was typically just turkey or tunafish, with the occasional pb&j thrown in if I was lucky.

    Lunchtime dessert was usually some kind of fruit. More often than not it was an apple, or if my mom was feeling adventurous, grapes. And beyond that, I really don’t remember the contents of my school lunches. I want to say milk? Maybe. Probably, because my mom was a real milk-pusher from the get-go.

    Talking to my niece, school lunches these days are a lot more exciting!

    Word on the street (or, more accurately, word from my niece, lol) is that kids now pack things like salad bowls, hummus, and cheese and crackers. Exotic fruit is the norm, and my niece even adds things like a square of dark chocolate for dessert and sparkling water to drink. Whoa, that's fancy. These kids blow my mind, lol.

    School lunches have come a long way! With a brown sugar and oat base and crumble topping, these Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars fit in quite nicely with the upgraded school lunches kids eat now.

    overhead view of pbj bars

    In This Article

    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe
    • How to Store PB and J Bars
    • Fun and Easy Variations on This Recipe
    • More Lunchbox Treats and Snack Ideas
    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe

    With the delicious blend of nutty peanut butter and sweet strawberry jam, these bars are a crowd-pleaser! Brown sugar with notes of molasses is the perfect sweetener here. They're subtly scented of vanilla. And they have oats to bump up the flavor and nutrition!

    Who wouldn’t love one of these jam bars tucked into their lunchbox for dessert, right?!

    PBJ Bars Ingredients

    • Unsalted butter - or you can use salted butter and omit the added salt; make the butter is at room temperature
    • Light brown sugar - this is the sweetener for these pbj bar cookies; brown sugar helps keep these bars moist and adds flavor notes of molasses and caramel
    • Creamy peanut butter - use whatever brand you like (Skippy is my favorite)
    • Egg - this acts as a binder for our peanut butter jelly bars, and helps us get the perfect texture
    • Vanilla - for flavor and aroma
    • Flour - the base for both the bottom crust and top crumble
    • Salt - to elevate the flavor of everything else
    • Baking powder - the leavening agent
    • Old-fashioned rolled oats - they add great texture and flavor here
    • Strawberry jam - or any type of jam you like

    How to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

    Step 1: Prep:

    Preheat oven to 350F; line an 8 by 8-inch pan with 2 pieces of parchment paper so it hangs over all 4 sides.

    Step 2: Make the Dough:

    Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, and then beat in the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Sift in the flour, salt, and baking powder, and beat just to combine, being careful not to over-mix. Stir in the oats.

    Step 3: Assemble the Bars:

    Press ⅔ of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam on top, leaving a rim of about ¼ inch all the way around. Crumble the remaining ⅓ of the dough on the top.

    Step 4: Bake:

    Bake until the bars look golden along the outside, about 32 minutes for gooey bars in the center, or up to 38 minutes for more set bars, being careful not to over-bake.

    Step 5: Serve and Store:

    To avoid these cookie bars crumbling, cool completely before cutting and serving.

    How to Store PB and J Bars

    Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.

    Or you can freeze them! Once these bars have cooled to room temperature, cut them into squares, layer them between pieces of parchment paper in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 6 months.

    Fun and Easy Variations on This Recipe

    • Switch up the jam for any flavor you like! Strawberry jam is my personal favorite pairing with peanut butter, but you can use whatever your favorite flavor is. Grape and raspberry are also delicious.
    • For a little bit of crunch, stir ½ cup of salted chopped peanuts into the crumble topping.
    • Upgrade these decadent dessert bars even more with a drizzle of white chocolate once they're cool.

    More Lunchbox Treats and Snack Ideas

    • The Ultimate Granola Cookies
    • Funfetti Cookies
    • Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe
    • Fudgy Double Chocolate Protein Bars
    3 stacked peanut butter jelly bars on blue background

    Let's Connect

    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    peanut butter and jelly bars featured image

    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

    By: Faith Gorsky
    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars feature a classic favorite flavor combination in a delicious nostalgic treat that's perfect for snacking or school lunches. They're gooey and rich with the perfect balance of nutty peanut butter and sweet strawberry jam. A buttery brown sugar oat crumble topping makes them even more irresistible!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 229 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup unsalted butter slightly softened
    • ¾ cup light brown sugar lightly packed
    • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
    • ½ cup strawberry jam or any flavor of jam you like

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350F; line an 8 by 8-inch pan with 2 pieces of parchment paper so it hangs over all 4 sides.
    • Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, and then beat in the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Sift in the flour, salt, and baking powder, and beat just to combine, being careful not to over-mix. Stir in the oats.
    • Press ⅔ of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam on top, leaving a rim of about ¼ inch all the way around. Crumble the remaining ⅓ of the dough on the top.
    • Bake until the bars look golden along the outside, about 32 minutes for gooey bars in the center, or up to 38 minutes for more set bars, being careful not to over-bake.
    • Cool completely before cutting and serving.

    Faith's Tips

    • Storage: Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or you can freeze them! Once these bars have cooled to room temperature, cut them into squares, layer them between pieces of parchment paper in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 6 months.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 229 Calories from Fat 108
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 12g18%
    Saturated Fat 5g31%
    Cholesterol 25mg8%
    Sodium 103mg4%
    Potassium 133mg4%
    Carbohydrates 26g9%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 16g18%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 192IU4%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 24mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword PBJ Bars, Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars, Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe, Peanut Butter Jelly Bars
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
    peanut butter and jelly bars recipe pin

    This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on September 6, 2017. I updated it with more information on August 21, 2020.

    More Bars and Brownies

    • copycat starbucks cranberry bliss bars recipe featured image
      Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe - So Easy to Make!
    • cranberry oatmeal bars featured image
      Easy Cranberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe - The Best Way to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce!
    • best brownies featured image
      The BEST Chewy Brownies Recipe
    • no bake peanut butter bars featured image
      No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe For When You Need an Easy Treat

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Laura | Tutti Dolci says

      September 06, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      Gorgeous bars, I love that crumbled top!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    faith photo with welcome

    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

    More About Faith →
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    Popular Recipes

    • boba milk tea featured image
      How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Tea Recipe)
    • mini victoria sponge cakes featured image
      Mini Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe - Fit for Royalty & Easy to Make as Cupcakes! {video}
    • canned chicken salad featured image
      Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
    • low carb chicken casserole featured image
      Keto Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole - Based on the Dip! {video}

    Seasonal Recipes

    • pear kale salad featured image
      Simple Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta
    • slow cooker enchiladas featured image
      Really Easy Crockpot Enchiladas (Ground Beef Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole)
    • baked brie featured image
      20-Minute Elegant Baked Brie Recipe with Honeyed Grapes
    • caramel apple popcorn featured image
      Easy Caramel Apple Popcorn Recipe and a Fall-Themed Movie Night Snack Board

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Contact
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    SEE RECIPE INDEX

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    My Other Blogs

    • Daily Desserting
    • The Keto Queens

    An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I use and love.

    Copyright © 2023 An Edible Mosaic