Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

By fuzzygroup

Ingredients

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanill
• 3/4 cup grape or strawberry jam (preferred)
• 2/3 cup coarsely chopped dry roasted peanuts

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 8x8x2 pan with heavy duty foil leaving 2" overhang around edges, pressing firmly into corners and up sides. Spray foil with spray.

2. Whisk flour, baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat peanut butter, sugar and butter in large bowl until smooth. Add egg and vanilla; beat on low speed until smooth. Add flour mixture; beat on low speed just to blend.

3. Transfer half of dough to pan (about scant 1.5 cups). Place remaining dough in freezer for 10 minutes. Using fingertips, press dough evenly onto bottom of pan. Spread jelly in even layer. Remove dough from freezer. Using fingertips, break into grape sized pieces and scatter over jelly layer. Sprinkle chopped nuts over.

4. Bake until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool bars completely in pan. Using foil overhang, remove from pan. Cut into 16 squares.