Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars 3.6 (160) 23 Reviews These cookie bars are a sweet take on a childhood classic—and sure to be a bake sale favorite. By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 30, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Yield: 3 dozen Jump to recipe This recipe from Martha Bakes turns a childhood classic into a tasty bar treat that's sure to satisfy both kids and adults. Quicker and easier to make than traditional cookies, simply mix the batter and pour into a pan. Then layer strawberry jam (or any other flavor jam), add some more dollops of batter, top with chopped peanuts, and bake. When the Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars are done, simply cut into squares and serve. 25 Bar Cookie Recipes That Are Perfect for Bake Sales, Potlucks, or Just Because Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan 1 ½ cups sugar 2 large eggs 2 ½ cups smooth peanut butter 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 ½ cups strawberry jam, or other flavor ⅔ cup salted peanuts, roughly chopped Directions Preheat oven and prepare pan: Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter, and line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease the parchment, and coat inside of pan with flour; set aside. Add a few swipes of butter to the pan before adding the parchment to hold the parchment in place. Mix moist ingredients with sugar: Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add eggs and peanut butter; beat until combined, about 2 minutes. Add dry ingredients and vanilla; Whisk together salt, baking powder, and flour. Add to bowl of mixer on low speed; combine. Add vanilla. Layer peanut-butter mixture and jam in pan: Transfer two-thirds of mixture to prepared pan; spread evenly with offset spatula. Using offset spatula, spread jam on top of peanut-butter mixture. Dollop remaining third of peanut-butter mixture on top of jam. Sprinkle with peanuts. Bake and serve: Bake until golden, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool; cut into about thirty-six 1 1/2-by-2-inch pieces. Use a long serrated knife to easily cut your cooled cookie bars. Bryan Gardner More Bar Cookie Recipes to Try Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Caramel Cereal Bars Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars Peach-Pie Crumble Bars Chocolaty Pretzel-and-Peanut Cookie Bars Blackberry Crumb Bars Martha Bakes Rate It PRINT