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These Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars turn a classic lunchtime snack into a delicious, gooey cookie bar! Easy gooey bars start with a cake mix and are full of peanut butter and jam flavor – you’re going to love them.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars
These cookie bars use a cake mix as base, and the outer layers are primarily peanut butter, while the middle layer brings in the sweet jelly. You can use jam or jelly all depending on whatever you prefer!
I Love gooey bars so much because they are so versatile and can be done in so many different ways. Just like this fun recipe. When my daughter was little she loved them, therefore they are perfect for anyone!
Ingredients Needed
- Yellow cake mix: You really can use any flavor or brand, but I love using yellow cake mix.
- Vegetable oil: Helps moisten the dough and keep it soft.
- Peanut butter: Make sure to use a no-stir (not natural) peanut butter
- Jam or Jelly: Use your favorite flavor.
How to make PB&J Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- With a hand mixer or electric mixer, beat eggs, cake mix, oil, and peanut butter until mixture is crumbly. Press about 1/2 of the mixture into prepared pan.
- Spread jam over the crust. Scoop bits of remaining batter and flatten between your hands and place on top the jam. It won’t fully coat.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes, until top just starts to get golden brown. Cool completely before slicing into bars.
Expert Tips
- I would recommend using seedless jam or jelly to avoid an extra texture that is not wanted in these bars.
- You can add peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips into this recipe if you would like too!
- You know they’re done when they become golden brown around the edges and are no longer glossy.
FAQs
You know they’re done when they become golden brown around the edges and are no longer glossy.
Yes you can in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
Ingredients
- 1 (approximately 15 ounces) box yellow cake mix
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup jam or jelly (I used seedless strawberry jam)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- With a hand mixer or electric mixer, beat eggs, cake mix, oil, and peanut butter until mixture is crumbly. Press about 1/2 of the mixture into prepared pan.
- Spread jam over the crust. Scoop bits of remaining batter and flatten between your hands and place on top the jam. It won't fully coat.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes, until top just starts to get golden brown. Cool completely before slicing into bars.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months.
- Don’t use natural peanut butter (only a no-stir brand).
- Seedless jam/jelly is best.
Recipe Nutrition
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Last Updated on August 13, 2023
I can’t believe you didn’t eat pb&j as a kid!!! I would have died if not for pb&j. It was my only reliable source of nutrients. These bars look awesome. I’m definitely going to try the pb chip version. Yum!
I am not a pb and j girl (totally not American, I know:) but these look so gooey, I can’t resist! Between the cake mix and the pb chips and the SCM, I think this would convert me!
I love peanut butter and I love gooey jelly. I’d snack on these and feel happy for the rest of the day.
Wow they look so good! I made some PB&J layered crumble-topped bars like this for my cookbook. But no gooey marshmallows and no soft squishy cake base. Your bars look wonderful and I have a marshmallow gooey bar recipe up today so needless to say, I would inhale these bars!
I was an adult, like 19 or 20, before I had a PB and J sandwich. They’re okay. HOWEVER, you had me at Sweetened Condensed Milk.
We still have a few more weeks of summer in MI, since school doesn’t start till after labor day 🙂 These look amazing though. I love PB&J anything 🙂
These look so amazing! and bring me right back to my childhood! thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks Madison!
Gooey anything has my name written all over it! I am loving all desserts with sweetened condensed milk these days. The stuff is magical in my opinion! These are gooetastic!
Totally Magical! Like unicorns and peanut butter cups. 🙂
I have not had this type of bar before either but love the flavors you put into it! Can’t wait to see what else you come up with! My daughters and I at the beginning of the summer starting chanting and we jump up and down as we say things like Summer! Summer! Summer! now we do it for everything. It is so cute!
We do that too, and by August we’re both excited for Fall! 🙂
I’ve never heard of a gooey bar before! But they look great 🙂
Thanks Rachel! They’re SO easy and good!
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