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Who says peanut butter and jelly is for kids? ....................
............... it's definitely not, especially when it's dressed up this way; a delightful, buttery, crumbly bar with a touch of sophistication - macadamia and white chocolate!
You're going to LOVE these, but I do have to warn you about one very real danger; they can go from a wishful thought to reality in less than an hour - very, very, VERY, dangerously delicious!
PB&J Bars w/ Macadamia and White Chocolate
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
¾ cup smooth peanut butter
½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¾ cup strawberry jam, or other flavor (I used my Strawberry Freezer Jam)
½ cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
½ cup white chocolate chips, roughly chopped
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8x8-inch pan with baking spray and line with foil, leaving a 2 inch overhang. Spray the foil with baking spray and set aside.
2. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add egg, vanilla and peanut butter; beat until combined, about 2 minutes.
3. Whisk together salt, baking powder, and flour. Add to bowl of mixer on low speed till just combined.
4. Place approximately half of mixture in freezer for 10 minutes. Place rest of dough in prepared pan and pat evenly with fingertips. Using offset spatula, spread jam on top of peanut-butter mixture. Remove dough from freezer; using fingertips, break into small pieces and scatter over jelly layer.
5. Bake bars for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with macadamia nuts. Return to oven, bake another 10 minutes and sprinkle with white chocolate. Bake 10 more minutes, cover with foil last 5 minutes if getting too brown.
6. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Using foil overhang as an aid, lift bars from pan. Gently peel foil from edges. Cut into 16 squares. Can be made 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature. These also freeze well. Thaw before serving.
Adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine, March 2011
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Reader Interactions
Comments
France@beyondthepeel says
wowsers. Definitely not little black dress friendly. Looks amazing Chris.
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sophiesfoodiefiles says
MMMMMMMMMMMMMM,...these bars look amazing, tasty & awesome too! 🙂
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Food, Fun and Life in the Charente says
I will miss out on this one, the only food in this world I do not like is peanut butter and I much prefer dark chocolate to white 🙂 Diane
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lena says
this sounds addictive and yeah..very dangerous..i'm off to your next post now! LOL!
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Lizzy says
Any cookie or bar with white chocolate catches my attention. As usual, your recipe looks wonderful.
We were in Paris from June 4-8! I'm thinking our time may have overlapped!!! I would have LOVED to have met up with you there~
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Nami | Just One Cookbook says
My goodness. I love macadamia and white chocolate combo, and you put it on top of PB & Jelly bars? AWESOME!! Honestly there is nothing better than this double (wait, tripple?) combo! I love it!
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Vicki Bensinger says
Mmm these do sound good and they're very pretty. I need to print this off to try. They'd be great for long hikes.
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Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Uh oh Chris. I have a punnet of strawberries that need to be used up, masses of peanut butter and nearly a kilogram of macadamias in the fridge. I might just have to whip up a batch of these.
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Catherine says
Dear Chris, I don't know if there is anything else I love more than peanut butter. These bars sound like a wonderful and delightful treat! Blessings to you dear, your friend, Catherine xoxo
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Veronica Miller says
I love pb&j and white choc macadamia is one of my fave cookies so bring them on! Mmmm
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Pacheco Patty says
I just had half a leftover PBJ sandwich for breakfast, your bar cookies look way better! Pinning;-)
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Eri says
Of course it;s not only for kids!
These bars looks amazing Chris!Reply
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says
I think you've got a winner here! they look amazing - not dry like so many of these bars - just - well, perfect!
Mary xReply
The Mom Chef says
You do know that these are totally my kind of bar cookie, right? I mean 100%. There's not one thing on there that I don't like.
It's nice to know you're back on this side of the pond! I hope you've recovered from jet lag and are enjoying our 'warm' spell. 🙂
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bellini says
I can see the danger here!
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Kim says
This is a great twist on an old classic, I like it, a lot!!!!
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Marre says
Hi Chris,
just took the cake from the oven, looks good 🙂
Did not have peanut butter at home, used butter, less cute but good 🙂
Had to bake the here and now;)Reply
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Did you make these for me? All I can say is oh my gosh!! I am speachless. Just when I thought I knew what to have for dessert tonight, you show these incredible bars. I need to make them!! I want one now!!
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Hovkonditorn says
I love these already 🙂
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Lenia says
I am sure I would be be addicted to these delicious bars!Have a lovely day,dear Chris!
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Patti says
Another must-try recipe! They sound absolutely delicious!
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Ginny says
Both adults and kids would love these, and what a wonderful surprise to take on a picnic!
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