Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Are you looking for a great snack for you or your kids?  Here is a nice spin on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  It takes about 20 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to bake.  It's a really affordable snack too (about $.39 per bar).  A few people have told me that they have used this recipe as a dessert too.  If you like peanut butter and jelly, I am sure you will enjoy this tasty treat.  Happy baking and eating everyone!

Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Ingredients:
8 tbsp (1 stick) of unsalted butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup of sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of creamy fat free peanut butter
1-1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1-1/2 cups of strawberry preserves
2/3 cup of salted peanuts
2/3 cups of peanut butter chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree.  Butter and lightly flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Lower speed; add egg, vanilla extract, and peanut butter.  Beat until combined well.
3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt.  On low speed, slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture.  Mix until combined.  Set aside 1/2 cup of dough.
4. Using your fingertips, press remaining dough into an even layer in pan.  Spread preserves over dough.  Crumble reserved 1/2 cup of dough over preserves.  Sprinkle with peanuts and peanut butter chips.
5. Bake until golden and bubbly (about 45 minutes).  Cool on a wire rack and cut into bars.
6. Serve!

All pictures of this recipe are courtesy of google images

*Nutrition information per serving (1 bar): 274 calories, 15 grams of fat, 2grams of fiber