If you are looking for one last item for your baking list this holiday, or need to add one to your list of favorites then stop right here! You don’t need to go any further! You will love these dessert bars forever.
These peanut butter and jelly dessert bars are sinfully delicious. Did I mention that they are easy to prepare too? Easy is important to me and I assume it is a positive thing for you too.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Makes 24 bars
Recipe from Ina Garten
Ingredients:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups creamy peanut butter
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1-1/2 cups raspberry jam or other jam
2/3 cups salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13x2-inch baking pan.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light yellow, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the vanilla, eggs and peanut butter and mix until well combined.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. Mix just until combined.
Spread two-thirds of the dough in the prepared pan, using a knife to spread it evenly. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Drop small globs of the remaining dough evenly over the jam. Don’t worry if all the jam isn’t covered; the dough will spread when it bakes. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and cut into small squares.
Enjoy!
Tomatoes on the Vine 
This looks ultra delicious and yes, sinful. But, it's the season to over-indulge. :)Have a very happy Christmas.
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I've made Ina's bars and they are delicious. Great photos!!
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Wow, love this idea! Great photos. Merry Christmas Velva.
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Oh, this recipe is a keeper! It's on my to do list! Merry Christmas!
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Oh! these looks so delicious. I will have to give them a try. So bad, I can't give them a bite right now.Merry Christmas!
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Delicious and perfectly healthy! I'm seeing a couple on a plate and a large glass of frosty milk in my future and topping off a bowl of vegetable soup. I think I've discovered my diet for 2011.Happy Holidays!Best,Bonnie
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I luv recipes with a high review. Thanks for sharing.
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PB&J is always after my heart, I bet this are fantastic. Happy Holidays.
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Oh that Ina! These hit me where it hurts…utterly divine. Merry Christmas to you and yours Velva! I cannot wait to see what you post for New Years!!
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Hi Velva, I LOVE PB&J and these bars look soooo good! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyous Christmas. :>)
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Easy and delicious, just what I like:) These look great!Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Velva, those bars would be fabulous on Christmas day for a breakfast brunch. I wish you a very merry Christmas filled with wonderful food, family and friends. Happy holidays to you and your family.Sam
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These sound delicious, Velva! Here's hoping you don't have to spend all your time in the kitchen this weekend and have plenty of time to enjoy your friends and family!Best,eggy
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Velva- You have just given me a wonderful idea. Each year I bake something to take my Dad for Christmas. I was struggling with what to take this year, but I think I've just found it. My Dad and I used to eat peanut butter and jelly on crackers together all the time. These will be perfect and I know he'll love them! Thanks for sharing.I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas full of lots of love and laughs…and good food too!
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Thanks for your kind comments Velva and for your invite to share a photo for your Wordless Wednesday! So stupid of me to read the comment after a wednesday 🙂 If u r still willing I can take a new photo n share with your readers next Wednesday!
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These PB&J bars look so comforting and delicious! Perfect for Christmas morning! Merry Christmas Velva! I hope your holidays are filled with much joy and laughter.
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VelvaThese bars are great and much easier than making the actual cookies; saves time shaping the cookies. Anyway, happy holidays and my best wishes for the new year!
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These bars look so delicious! Perfect with a morning coffee!
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hello Velva I wish you a very happy season holiday here it is freezing in Paris !!Pierre
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I hope you had a wonderful holiday!! These look delicious. What's better than peanut butter and jelly!
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I wonder if I get away for doing this for lunch… easy, scrumptious and pretty. I hope your holiday was merry and bright.
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Hope you had a fabulous Christmas…. We did–and are now looking forward to 2011….I LOVE Peanut Butter —so your bars made my mouth water. Thanks for the recipe.Hugs,Betsy
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I am a total peanut butter addict. I would eat the whole batch! Happy Holidays, Velva!
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What a homey and scrumptious idea, Velva. 🙂 These \”feel\” so American and down home. I love it. 🙂
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I am a sucker for peanut butter bars! These look fanfreakingtastic! Angie
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I am not a PB&J kind of gal, but I would be willing to taste one…hope your holiday was all that you wanted!Got snow like us?
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I'm a total PB&J lover and these look fantastic! Wishing you a happy upcoming New Year!
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These look positively delectable! Hope you had a great Christmas Velva!
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My kids love pb&j's. I bet these would be a big hit at my house!
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Velva, wishing you & your family a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. May all the good things coming your way in year 2011. Enjoy the holiday & have lots of fun! And am loving your bars and Santa Cat! Blessings, Kristy
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Hi Velva, thanks for following my blog. hope you enjoy it.Love your site too,nice picture's and recipe's.Merry Xmas and a happy new year..
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This bars looks really good. Christmas greetings and A Happy New Year! Enjoy your holidays and have fun!
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Isn't Ina the very best? I've made these too…we loved them.Wishing you a Happy New Year, Velva.And hope you're staying warm!
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Oooh Velva, these looks wonderful and tastey!I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas holiday and a beautiful new year to come!Hugs & Blessings~
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mmmm! love the classic combo, these sound wonderful!
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Those look irresistible! So regressive too.Cheers,Rosa
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Velva, I think I remember the episode she made these! Very decadent! I love bar cookies, so easy to make. In Australia we call these \”slices.\” But Australians would never eat peanut butter and jelly together. They think Americans are strange for that (and they eat vegemite!)
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Those look so good! I love peanut butter and jelly and have never thought of any good way to implement them together besides sandwiches. Over the summer I attempted making my own peanut butter thumbprints with grape jelly but they were a miserable fail. These are such a better idea!
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My kid would love those bars!!!!!!Delicious. Happy New Year,Velva!
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What a great way to enjoy that great flavour combination!
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I've made these before! They are so decadent! A PB&J fantasy 🙂
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