Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Oatmeal Bars Recipe
There’s just something so special about starting your day with a warm cup of coffee and that perfect sweet treat. That’s how this delicious twist on my easy strawberry oatmeal bars was born! My family devours the strawberry bars anytime I make them, so I was eager to find a way to create something similarly satisfying. These peanut butter and jelly bars have quickly become a new favorite in our household.
With the addition of the peanut butter, I tend to think of the peanut butter and jelly bars more as breakfast bars or even a healthy snack. That touch of peanut butter makes these bars slightly more savory than the original strawberry crumb bars. However, you can certainly still indulge in these bars as a delicious dessert option. My favorite way to do that is with some dairy-free ice cream or whipped topping.
Requiring just one mixing bowl and sauce pan, these bars come together with a few simple ingredients and are sure to be a crowd favorite. So many strawberry crumb bars use a homemade strawberry mixture, but I just love how this recipe uses your favorite jam and nut butter to save time still creating an equally flavorful bar that is sure to be one of your new favorite, delicious desserts. If you have the time, it’s worth the extra effort to brown the butter. The buttery flavors only get stronger and nuttier when you take the time for this extra step and is part of what makes this bar recipe so delicious.
Serving Suggestions
The hearty oat crust is packed with fiber and provides the perfect balance to the sweet jam filling. You can top these with your favorite whipped topping or ice cream for a dessert option. Or for a special breakfast, enjoy with a warm cup of coffee and some breakfast sausages, bacon or eggs. As a dessert or breakfast option, fresh strawberries or any fresh fruit served on the side are the perfect accompaniment. Either way, these strawberry oat bars are best served warm.
Storage
To store bars, cool them completely and store them in an airtight container.
- Counter – These bars can be kept fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Refrigerator – Store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
- Freezer – For a longer-term storage option, the freezer is your best option as these will keep fresh for up to 3 months. Just be sure to individually wrap each bar in parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together. Add to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Just defrost and reheat to enjoy!
Main Ingredients
- Butter – I personally tolerate butter just fine, but if you need to replace with ghee or vegan butter for dietary needs either of those should work. I have not tried to use coconut oil, but that should also work. To more closely mimic the water and fat content of butter, use 9 TBS of coconut oil and 1 TBS of water. If trying to brown the butter for a nutty, caramel depth of flavor, I only recommend doing that with real butter.
- Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar is just regular cane sugar with molasses. If you’re out of brown sugar and want to save a trip to the store, just use ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ TBS of molasses. If you like healthier swaps, you can use coconut brown sugar to keep this recipe free from any refined sugar.
- Vanilla Extract – There is simply no substitute for vanilla extract, one of my personal favorite ingredients in the kitchen. I always have my children take a quick smell if they are cooking with me. Cooking is all about combining foods that taste and smell amazing. I think it’s so important for them to learn at a young age about how just one ingredient can completely transform a dish.
- Gluten Free Flour – My favorite gluten free flour blend is Bob’s Red Mill 1-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour. However, you can use your personal favorite for this mix or make your own gluten free blend.
- Oats – If you are celiac or have gluten ataxia (like me), be sure to use oats that are certified gluten free. Although oats are naturally gluten free, they are often harvested in fields near gluten-containing grains often causing cross-contamination.
- Salt – Just a little pinch is all you need to help these flavors come alive.
- Baking Soda – When it comes to this leavening agent, fresh is always best. A small amount goes a long way to creating that perfectly flaky crust.
- Strawberry Jam – For the strawberry filling, I kept things simple and just used strawberry jam. Bonne Maman is hands down my favorite brand of jam and is what I used in this recipe. However, you can use your preferred brand, make your own or use a sugar free jam if trying to avoid refined sugars in this recipe.
- Peanut Butter – I used creamy peanut butter for this recipe but you can use crunch peanut butter or any nut butter you like. Almond butter and sunbutter would be great substitutions.
Flavor Variations
There are so many different ways you can mix up the flavors of these bars to create some fun and unique flavors that are equally delectable. Here are a few of my favorite ways to mix up the flavor profile.
- Chocolate Chips – Sprinkling half a cup or so of chocolate chips or even white chocolate tips on top of the peanut butter and jelly before adding the crumb topping would be a great way to satisfy that chocolate craving.
- Powdered Sugar – Everything looks prettier with some powdered sugar dusted on top.
- Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice – For a more sophisticated taste, mix in the zest and juice of one lemon into the jam before spooning over the oat mixture.
- Different Flavor Bars – Strawberry preserves are my personal favorite, but you can have a lot of fun mixing up the flavors. Use raspberry jam for raspberry oatmeal bars. Cherry, mixed berry, and grape would be fun variations too!
Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jelly Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups gluten free flour
- 1 cup gluten free old-fashioned oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup strawberry jam or preserves
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8-inch pan (square) with cooking spray. Then line with parchment paper. Leave the overhang on two sides for easy removal.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, stirring frequently. To brown the butter for a deeper, caramel, nutty flavor, brown until the milk solids turns a golden-brown color. Then, immediately remove the pan from the heat source to prevent it from burning.
- Add brown sugar and vanilla to browned butter and stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, oats, salt, and baking soda.
- Pour melted butter and brown sugar mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to fully combine using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Reserve about ¾ cup of the oat mixture for the topping for the bars. Set aside.
- Dump the remaining oat mixture into the prepared 8-inch baking pan (square) and press it down into the bottom of the prepared pan with your hands or the back of a spatula into a flat even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove the partially baked crust from the oven. Evenly spoon creamy peanut butter on top of the jam. Use the back of a spoon or spatula to gently swirl around.
- Crumble the remaining mixture of oats over the top of the jam layer. Return to oven and bake for another 15-18 minutes, until the crumble topping is light golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Note: the bars will firm up as they cool. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
- These bars are best served soft when they are warm or at room temperature.
