Saturday, April 25, 2009

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

So, fellow foodies, I'll be out of town for a few days, yipee! Never to worry, awesome, super sweet and my BBFF (blogging best friend forever), Jaime will be here posting her yummy recipes. My husband, son, daughter, mother-n-law and I are heading up to a beautiful, secluded cabin up in North Arizona. We booked this trip months ago and we're totally stoked that it's our turn to veg out in cooler weather, by the creek, in peace. I'll take pictures of this 2 story cabin we're staying in, it's SO neat, so relaxing and I can't wait to get away and rest (can you really rest with 2 kids, one being only 4 months old?) Here's the girl who keeps me up at night!
Anyway, to the real reason you stopped by, Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. It first started with me making a peanut butter bar. When I was done cooking it, something was missing, ya know that special something? I finally added a peanut butter icing I made and then drizzled it with warm strawberry jelly and fresh strawberries, hence, PB & J bars. My husband and son LOVE IT!! They REALLY love it. (If you've read this blog before, I'm still dieting, so no PB & J bars for me). So, here ya go, Mr. PB and Mrs. J Bars.

What you need:
Bottom Layer
  1. 3/4 cup butter, room temp
  2. 3/4 cup peanut butter
  3. 1 cup packed brown sugar
  4. 1/2 granulated sugar
  5. 2 teaspoon baking soda
  6. 1/4 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Icing

  1. 1 cup peanut butter
  2. 1.5 cup powdered sugar

Top Layer:

  1. Strawberry Jelly
  2. fresh strawberries (optional)
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil, extending foil beyond the actual edges. Set aside.
***
In a big mixing bowl beat the butter and peanut butter for 45 seconds. Beat in white sugar and brown sugar, baking powder and salt until combined. Now, add the eggs and vanilla, beat until combined. Slow add your flour, mix well and make sure everything is combined well.
***
Spread dough in your foil pan, right over the foil - trust me the foil helps after baking is over. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until a knife comes out clean from the center.
***
Once baked, cool on rack. Remove from pan by lifting foil and place on a large plate/dish.


Now that the base is cooked and cooled, it's time to add the peanut butter frosting. Add the powdered sugar and peanut butter and mix well. Taste, taste, taste! If you want it sweeter, add more sugar. Not enough peanut butter for your taste? Add more! To thick? Add some milk. Play with it...you will get it perfectly, trust me.




Ice the bars now.




I warm the jelly in a coffee cup until liquidy. I then pour the warm jelly over a peice of the bar and then top it off with fresh strawberry.




You can use other flavored jelly as well.






30 comments:

Cathy said...

Have a great trip! Those bars look sinful.

Reeni said...

I am a sucker for Peanut Butter! These are a divine little treat. Have fun on your vay-cay!!

Heather S-G said...

Stop it! You're killing me. This is sooooo delicious...I want some! Your daughter is so beautiful! Have fun!!!!

Bunny said...

I hope you have a wonderful relaxing trip. These bars look fantastic, my hubby is a pb fanatic, he'll love these!!

Justin said...

i could really go for these right now

Donna-FFW said...

AWWW!! She is adorable!!

These bars sound so very delicious. I love the layers. Decadent!!

Christina Kim said...

What a beautiful baby!! Have so much fun on your trip. I love these PB&J bars, what a brilliant idea!!

Kathy said...

Yum! Yum! Yum!!! I can't wait to try these out on my kiddos!!! Enjoy your vacation!!!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

These look wonderful! You have a great blog!

Hornsfan said...

So sad for you that you can't enjoy this tasty treat! Good luck with the resting and the trip!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful sweet treats! Have a great trip!

Anonymous said...

These were great, love. Look forward to our trip.

I love you Jen.

Bart

teresa said...

Oh my goodness, gorgeous! I could go for a big ol' pan of these right now. Great idea. Have a WONDERFUL time on your trip, how fun!

test it comm said...

That is a great way to combine the classic peanut butter and jelly combo!

Unknown said...

Have a wonderful trip! Your daughter is adorable. The bars look amazing. Peanut butter and jelly combo is so yummy!

Karen said...

Looks great with the strawberries on top! I love Arizona... I guess it has to be my favorite state. Have fun up north!

Mary Ann said...

I love peanut butter and strawberries. It is definitely one of my favorite combinations.
These look delightful! Have a great trip.

Dragon said...

Have a safe trip!

sandla said...

Definitely i also could really go for these right now

Sherri Murphy said...

Where were you when my kids still lived at home?

I'm making these babies!

Delectable Dining said...

These look so good! I don't know if I would have ANY willpower with these sitting in my kitchen! :)

Have a great trip!

Colleen said...

Wow, these look great! I have made Ina's PB and J bars, but these are totally different - I need to give them a try!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

h my god thats looking awesome..mouthatering..I love peanu flavour in anyway.

unconfidential cook said...

Beautiful bars...I never eat a pb&j, but maybe if it were a designated dessert...

Jim @ CoolStuffForDads.com said...

That secluded cabin with creek sounds very cool! Enjoy your time away!!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Hope you have a wonderful trip! These look fantastic, talk about make you dream of the little kid still inside of you.

Rachel said...

I left an award for you on my blog :)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Looks delish! Love your idea of warm up some jelly and topping with a strawberry. You just took a good dessert and made it great.

Btw, love the bar to frosting ratio! Mmmm!

Have a wonderful trip and your babygirl is a cutie!
~ingrid

C.G. the Foodie said...

I am seriously drooling as I read this post. Yum!!!

Lin said...

Oooo, yum! Maybe if I ever stop dieting....