Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
Ingredients:
1-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup salted butter (at room temperature)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 extra large egg
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup jam or jelly
1/4 cup peanuts (roasted or raw, salted or unsalted are fine)
Preheat oven to 350*F. Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, oats & baking soda. Using a mixer, cream together butter & sugar until soft & smooth. Add egg, peanut butter & vanilla. Mix until smooth again. Pour flour & oat mixture into the bowl with peanut butter mixture. Use a spoon to stir until everything is evenly combined & a thick cookie dough forms. Press 3/4 of cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Make sure there are no holes or gaps & dough is compact. Spread jam evenly over the surface of cookie dough. Drop remaining cookie dough over top of jam in small pieces or crumbles. Sprinkle peanuts over top & press them down gently into jam & dough crumbles. (The crumbles & peanuts will not cover the jam in a solid layer). Cook bars for 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Let bars cool slightly, then use parchment to lift bars out of the dish. Cut into 12 pieces & enjoy!