Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

• 1  stick (1/4 lb.) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4  cup  sugar
• 1  large egg, at room temperature
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  cup  creamy peanut butter
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1 1/2  cups  strawberry preserves
• 2/3  cup  salted peanuts
• 2/3  cup  peanut butter chips

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Lower speed; add egg, vanilla and peanut butter and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. On low speed, slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture. Mix until just combined. Set aside 1/2 cup dough.

Using your fingertips, press remaining dough into an even layer in pan. Spread preserves over dough. Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough over preserves and then sprinkle with peanuts and peanut butter chips.

Bake until golden and bubbly, 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and cut into bars.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

274

Fat:

15g (sat 5g)

Protein:

7g

Carbohydrate:

30g

Fiber:

2g

Cholesterol:

19mg

Sodium:

152mg