Ina Garten Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars Recipe

This Ina Garten Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars Recipe is a soft and nostalgic treat, which includes creamy peanut butter and sweet strawberry jelly. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in 1 hour.

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Ina Garten Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars Ingredients

• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter (not natural or freshly ground)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1½ cups strawberry jelly or your favorite flavor of jam
• ⅔ cup salted peanuts, roughly chopped

How To Make Ina Garten Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and line with parchment paper, leaving overhangs.
2. Cream butter and sugar: In a mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes).
3. Add wet ingredients: Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract. Add peanut butter and mix until smooth.
4. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Mix dry with wet: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, mixing on low speed until just combined.
6. Press dough into pan: Spread about two-thirds of the dough evenly in the pan and press into an even layer.
7. Add jelly and topping: Spread jelly over the dough, leaving a small border. Crumble remaining dough over the top, then sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
8. Bake: Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until golden and the jelly is bubbling slightly.
9. Cool and serve: Let cool completely in the pan. Use parchment to lift out, then slice into bars.

Recipe Tips

• What peanut butter works best?
  Use commercial creamy peanut butter, not natural or freshly ground.
• Can I use crunchy peanut butter?
  Yes, but reduce or skip the chopped peanuts if you do.
• How to keep bars from sticking:
  Line the pan with parchment and leave overhangs to lift the bars easily.
• Best jam flavors to try:
  Strawberry, raspberry, apricot, or grape all work well.
• Can I make these ahead?
  Yes, they store well for several days and freeze beautifully.

What To Serve With PB&J Bars

These bars are perfect for:

• School lunches or lunchboxes
• Picnics and potlucks
• Coffee or tea breaks
• After-school snacks
• Holiday cookie trays

How To Store PB&J Bars

Room Temperature:
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Refrigerate:
Optional, helps them stay firmer—up to 1 week.

Freeze:
Freeze cut bars between layers of parchment for up to 3 months.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 390
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Sugar: 24g
• Protein: 8g
• Sodium: 220mg

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and portion size.

FAQs

Can I use almond or sunflower butter?
Yes, just make sure it’s a creamy, no-stir variety for best texture.

Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Can I reduce the sugar?
You can cut back slightly, but the structure and flavor may change.

How do I know when it’s done baking?
The top should be golden and jelly slightly bubbling. A toothpick may not come out clean.

What size should I cut the bars?
You can cut into 12 large bars or 16 smaller snack-size bars.

Try More Recipes:

• Ina Garten White Chocolate Bark Recipe
• Ina Garten Plum Crisp Recipe
• Ina Garten Icebox Cake With Tate’s Cookies Recipe