Description
Ina Garten’s peanut butter and jelly bars combine childhood nostalgia with gourmet sophistication. Buttery shortbread crust, creamy peanut butter filling, and sweet raspberry jam create a delightful dessert you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (18 oz / 510 g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ lb (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) sugar
- 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (18 oz / 510 g) raspberry jam or other jam
- ⅔ cups (90 g) salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) with the rack positioned centrally for uniform heat distribution. Generously butter and flour a 9x13x2-inch baking pan to prevent adhesion.
- Mixing Base: Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually incorporate peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla extract on low speed, ensuring smooth integration.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Fold these dry components into the wet mixture gently, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender texture.
- Layer Construction: Spread approximately two-thirds of the dough evenly across the prepared pan’s bottom. Loosen the jam by stirring, then distribute it uniformly over the base layer.
- Topping Application: Crumble the remaining dough over the jam, creating a rustic, loose coverage. Sprinkle chopped peanuts across the surface for added crunch and nutty flavor.
- Baking Process: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. Look for a golden-brown top and test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the dessert to cool completely within the pan before slicing into generous square portions, ensuring clean, neat cuts.
Notes
- Prevent Sticking Smartly: Butter and flour the pan meticulously to guarantee easy bar removal and perfect presentation.
- Mix Mindfully: Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender, delicate texture.
- Layer Strategically: Spread two-thirds of dough as a base, ensuring even coverage for consistent baking and optimal jam distribution.
- Cool Completely: Let bars cool entirely in the pan to set properly, allowing flavors to meld and structure to stabilize before cutting into squares.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 371
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 172 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg