PB&J Bars

I adapted this recipe from a September 2013 Real Simple. I also recommend trying it various combinations of fruit and jam until you find your favorite. I happened to have blueberries and some yummy blueberry jam at home, so that it was I used. You could also swap out 1/2 of a cup of the flour for a 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats if you wanted!

You will need:

• 1/2 c blueberry jam
• 3/4 c fresh blueberries, roughly mashed (I just used a fork)
• 1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 c sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 t pure vanilla extra
• 1 3/4 c whole wheat flour
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground nutmeg
• 1 c peanut butter
• 3/4 c chopped nuts (I used an unsalted combination of peanuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts)

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the edges.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the mashed blueberries with the jam.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Cream the butter and sugar together (recommend via electric mixer) until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.
6. Beat in the peanut butter until thoroughly combined.
7. Gradually stir in the flour mixture just until combined.
8. Press half of the down into the baking dish. Spread with fingers and try to keep an even thickness.
9. Spread the fruit mixture on top of the dough.
10. Stir the chopped nuts into the remaining dough.
11. Crumble the dough on top of the fruit mixture, lightly pressing to ensure top is covered.
12. Bake until golden brown, about 40-45 minutes.
13. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for a half hour before moving to a wire rack to complete cooling.