Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

A recipe for these Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars appeared in my inbox this morning, and they sounded so yummy and easy. So I decided to make them this afternoon - and I'm soooo glad I did! They are very yummy.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
Source: http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2012/03/peanut-butter-jelly-bars.html

1 stick of butter (113g), at room temperature
3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 extra-large egg (I used 2 medium eggs)
1 cup of crunchy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup of raspberry jam or other jam
1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar for 2 minutes. Add vanilla, egg and peanut butter. Mix until well incorporated. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix together on low, just until incorporated.

Grease a 9x9 pan (I always line tins with non-stick parchment paper for easy removal). Put 2/3 of the mixture in and press it into the bottom. Spread the jam over the dough layer. Add the chopped peanuts to the remaining 1/3 of the dough mixture. Mix it together (with your hands) until the peanuts are mixed in. Crumble the mixture over the jam layer.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let it cool for 20 minutes before cutting to let the jam set.