PB&J Cookie Bars (Vegan)

The classic peanut butter and jelly gets reimagined for dessert. These cookie bars are chock-full of rich peanut and sweet fruity flavor, just like your favorite childhood sandwich. These dessert bars can be made vegan for everyone to enjoy and they’re sure to fly right off the plate.

 

Ingredients:

9 T unsalted butter (vegan or regular)
⅔ cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder

 

For the topping:

4 sheets of graham crackers
1 T butter
1 T peanut butter
1 jar of jelly or jam

 

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°

Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 pan with butter or line it with parchment paper

Melt your butter in a small pot over medium heat.

When your butter has melted, add the peanut butter, and mix until combined.

Transfer your mixture into a large bowl.

Add your brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract to the bowl and stir until combined.

In a separate smaller bowl, add your flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix until combined.

Pour your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients and stir until they’ve just come together. Be careful not to overmix.

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and create an even layer of batter with a spatula.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the sides become golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before adding any toppings.

While your cookie is baking, you can make the topping.

Heat a tablespoon of butter in a small bowl or saucepan. You can use a microwave or a stovetop.

Crush your graham crackers into crumbs and add them to the bowl.

Add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the bowl.

Stir the ingredients to combine them. This can be done with a fork or spoon, but it’s much easier when done with your hands.

Once your cookie has cooled, you can begin topping it.

Spread an even layer of jelly or jam over the top of the cookie, about ½ an inch thick.

Sprinkle a layer of your graham cracker topping on top of the jam, making sure to cover all the visible jam.

Cut it into squares and enjoy!