Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars (Adapted from Martha Stewart)

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
16 tablespoons (1 cup or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups strawberry jam
2/3 cup coarsely chopped salted peanuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in peanut butter. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until well combined after each. Mix in vanilla. Pour in dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Scoop out about two-thirds of the mixture and place into the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking pan coated with cooking spray. Press down to form a level crust. Dollop jam over the top, then spread smooth using an off-set spatula. Take remaining third of the peanut butter crust and evenly crumble it all over to form the top crust. Scatter the top with peanuts.

Place into the oven and bake until the top is golden, about 45 minutes. Remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes about 32 bars.

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