Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

It’s time to celebrate the childhood classic in a whole new way with Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. A soft peanut butter dough is layered with sweet raspberry jelly, chocolate cups, more jelly, and topped off with crumbled peanut butter dough before being baked to golden perfection. One bite of these soft and gooey crumble bars will have you saying “more please” as you dive in for another. They are truly that good.

And don’t worry, these bars may be irresistible but at least they’re healthier for you too! Made with nutrient dense ingredients, this peanut butter and jelly bar recipe is also vegan, gluten, grain, and dairy free.

Growing up I never had the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwich experience (sad, I know). So you could say I’m making up for lost time by enjoying the flavors in plenty of new and interesting ways. These peanut butter and jelly bars being a favorite of mine, and this PB & J Banana Bread being a close second!

Ingredients in Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

Peanut Butter – I used salted and creamy peanut butter for these crumble bars but feel free to swap for whichever variety you have. Crunchy peanut butter would add texture and unsalted works fine, just be sure to add a pinch of salt to the mix!

Maple Syrup – A refined sugar free sweetener that pairs so well with peanut butter. Gives an almost caramel-like flavor to these bars.

Coconut Oil – Helps the peanut butter mixture melt and then thicken again as it bakes. The fats in coconut oil also help to hold the dough together.

Coconut Sugar – Another refined-sugar free sweetener that pairs oh so well with maple syrup and peanut butter.

Vanilla Extract – Elevates the sweet and salty flavors of these peanut butter and jelly bars.

Almond Flour – My favorite grain + gluten free flour that gives the best soft and crumbly texture to these raspberry crumble bars.

Coconut Flour – Another grain + gluten free flour that’s needed to absorb any excess moisture.

Jelly/Jam – I honestly use whatever brand and flavor is in my fridge so feel free to do the same. My favorite brands are listed further down in this post!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cups – While these are entirely optional I highly recommend adding them. Even if it’s just plain ‘ole chocolate peanut butter cups or chocolate chips, the chocolate pairs SO well with the peanut butter and jelly combo.

How to Make Peanut Butter & Jelly Crumble Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 8″ x 8″ baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Heat peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract in a medium saucepan. Stir mixture on med-low until well blended and begins to simmer. Let simmer for 3-5 minutes, until mixture starts to thicken.
3. Remove from heat and mix in almond flour and coconut flour.
4. Press ⅔ of mixture into an even layer on the bottom of your parchment lined 8” x 8” baking pan using a spatula or your hands.
5. Spread a layer of jam over the top and layer 16 chocolate cups (or chocolate chips or chocolate bars) on top of the jam until mostly covered. Spread another layer of jam over the top of the 16 cups.
6. Crumble remaining dough evenly over the top and press lightly with your hands to help crumble topping stick to the jam. Bake for 20 minutes, or until crumble begins to brown.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into 16 squares.

Is Jam the Same as Jelly?

Although “jam” and “jelly” get used interchangeably there truly is a difference between them! And while I’ve always been partial to peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and jam could technically work as well. I mean what actually dictates the meaning of “J” in PB & J … right?!

What it comes down to as the differentiating factor is the form of the fruit in said jelly or jam. A jelly is made with fruit juice which makes for a thinner and more smooth consistency. A jam is made with fruit pulp or crushed fruit, making it thicker and more stiff than jelly.

So while the taste is not going to change much between jam or jelly, it more so comes down to a texture difference. For these healthy peanut butter and jelly bars I personally used jelly but feel free to use jam too!

What is the best type of jelly?

The peanut butter and jelly combo wouldn’t be complete without the sweet, moist, and fresh presence of a good jelly. And thankfully, there’s all kinds of jelly/jam options for these crumble bars. Whether you use all natural, store bought, or make it from scratch, you get to choose your jelly for these!

My personal favorite for store bought jelly/jam includes:

Bonne Maman – For a thin spreading jelly, I love their blueberry and raspberry preserves.

St. Dalfour – Makes an exquisite 100% fruit spread from France with delicious flavor. This strawberry spread is a good cross between jam and jelly for texture.

Crofters Fruit Spread – This is an organic seedless raspberry spread that’s more on the thick side for spreading. Certainly not as thin as a traditional jelly.

And if you’d rather make homemade, go for it! I do this all the time to use up fruit and it’s simple enough to google a recipe for it. I’m working to finalize one of my own for the blog currently!

Grain Free Baking

It may seem intimidating to bake grain free if you’re new to it but I promise it’s actually quite easy. The first step is to find your go-to grain free flours and make sure to have them stocked in your pantry. Now if you’re thinking “yes but which flours are grain free?” … see my favorites for these grain + gluten free raspberry crumble bars below!

Almond Flour is my first choice because it subs out near perfectly with typical flour. It holds moisture to make moist, fluffy baked goods while not being overly absorbent to dry them out. Almond flour also has a neutral flavor and makes great texture in baked (and no-bake) goods.

The second flour for this peanut butter and jelly bar recipe is coconut flour. Unlike almond flour, coconut flour is actually very absorbent and not measuring it correctly could make for either too dry or too dense baked goods. But when you measure correctly it can make for a great soft and crumbly texture. I also like that it’s subtly sweet which pairs well with any sweet treat recipe!

My go-to brand for almond flour and coconut flour is Bob’s Red Mill but find a brand that works for you and your budget. It might take some time to experiment with grain free flours but you’ll eventually get it! Not to mention, as long as you follow my recipes step for step, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Healthy Recipes with Jam

As I work to increase my collection of tasty peanut butter and jelly inspired recipes, check out these healthy recipes with jam! Some include jelly or jam in the actually recipes while others would pair wonderfully with a fruit spread.

Crepe Pancakes that are pillowy soft and perfect for enjoying with fresh fruit, your favorite nut butter, and a smear of jam or jelly overtop.

Linzer Cookies may be a seasonal sweet but these soft and crisp shortbread cookies with rich jam inside deserve to be enjoyed year round.

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins are irresistible when heated up with a slab of melty butter and a thick spread of jam. Hand me my coffee and I’m set for the morning!

If you try this recipe or any of the above ones, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you, and it also helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars 🙂