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Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars

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These peanut butter and jelly bars have a base layer of peanut butter oat cookie topped with peanut butter cheesecake, homemade strawberry jam, and a peanut butter oat crumble. They’re chewy, creamy, gooey, crunchy, and a delicious twist on a childhood classic!

a stack of peanut butter and jelly bars with a bite taken out

Peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars

Your favorite lunch box sandwich just got a major upgrade. And I think peanut butter and jelly is a delicious combo that isn’t showcased enough in baking! The creamy peanut butter against the tart jam, all coming together with a soft and sweet bread. One bite instantly takes you back to when you were a kid.

That’s why I wanted to create a really fun rendition of this classic combo. They have a soft base, creamy center, fresh strawberries, and a crunchy crumble topping.

All these layers may seem daunting, but it’s actually super easy to make! Especially with a little cheat I used for the base and top layers.

These bars are made up of 4 parts:

Part 1: Soft peanut butter oat cookie – This layer is the base to these bars and is made up of a few simple ingredients. It turns out soft and peanut buttery, but strong enough to withstand all the layers stacked on top.

Part 2: Peanut butter cheesecake – Spread on top of the shortbread is a creamy layer of peanut butter cheesecake. It’s only made up of 5 ingredients and comes together super quick.

Part 3: Homemade strawberry jam – This is a recipe I constantly use because it never fails. It’s easy to make and tastes WAY better than what you can buy in stores.

Part 4: Peanut butter oat crumble – The topping is probably the easiest step…mainly because we use leftover dough from the base layer to make it! By the time you’ve made it to the top layer, the oat crumble is already ready to go.

a jar of freshly made homemade strawberry jam

How to make super easy homemade strawberry jam

After making this strawberry jam, you’ll never use store bought again. You only need 2 ingredients (plus water) and about 30 minutes to reach the best jam. It’s the perfect consistency and bakes beautifully in these cheesecake bars.

To start, add 2 cups of strawberries, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer once it starts to bubble and continue to cook for about 30 minutes.

At first it will steam quite a bit, then a pink foam will start to form as it begins to boil. Continue stirring and gently mash the strawberries as they become soft and tender.

The jam will simmer for 25-30 minutes, producing tons of steam. This is all the water evaporating out, allowing the jam to become thicker and thicker.

After 30 minutes, you’ll notice the pink foam start to disappear and the jam will turn a deep red. It should have also reduced to about 1 cup. Dip your mixing utensil into the jam and watch how it slides off. If it coats the spoon and slooowly drips off, it’s ready.

Pour the hot jam into a glass measuring cup, leaving you with 1 cup of jam. Let it sit at room temperature to thicken and cool while you make the bars.

Can I use store-bought jam?

Yes you can, just make sure it’s jam and not preserves or jelly (I’ve made this mistake before). Jam is the perfect consistency because it will thicken as it bakes in these bars, allowing all the layers to stick together when sliced.

peanut butter shortbread pressed into a baking pan

Making the base layer and oat crumble

The base layer is a really simple soft peanut butter cookie made just like any other cookie dough! Here’s the ingredients you’ll need:

  • all-purpose flour
  • old fashioned rolled oats
  • salt
  • unsalted butter
  • brown sugar
  • creamy peanut butter
  • vanilla extract
  • egg

Mix together all of the dry ingredients and set aside. Then, cream together the butter, sugar, and peanut butter. Mix in the vanilla and egg and then the dry ingredients.

The base layer will need to be par baked, meaning it will bake in the oven for a few minutes before baking with the rest of the layers. This is to ensure it bakes all the way through.

Press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of an 8×8 baking pan greased and lined with parchment paper. Allow the paper to hang over the edges so you can lift the bars out later.

Leave the remaining dough in the bowl and mix in more flour, oats, and sugar. This transforms the dough into the crumble topping…so two layers in one! It’s the best way to save time and ingredients for a dessert that consists for 4 layers.

Place the crumble in the fridge to firm up while you finish off these bars.

What is the best peanut butter to use?

This recipe calls for standard creamy peanut butter. This would be something like JIF or Skippy. It should be no stir to ensure the bars don’t get too oily.

spreading peanut butter cheesecake batter in a pan

Quick and simple peanut butter cheesecake batter

Once the base layer has baked for 8 minutes, start on the cheesecake layer.

But before that, make sure the cream cheese is a room temperature. This ensures the batter turns out nice and smooth.

Mix together the cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar until smooth. Then, mix in the egg and vanilla and you’re done! It’s that easy.

Assembling the peanut butter and jelly layers

Spread the cheesecake on top of the cooled shortbread layer. If it’s still a bit warm, that’s OK. Just make sure it isn’t piping hot otherwise the cheesecake will melt.

At this point, the jam will be at the perfect consistency. It should be thickened but still thin enough to easily spread. Gently spoon 3/4 cup all around the cheesecake layer (see pictures above) and then carefully spread it even.

Take the crumble out of the fridge and rub small chunks between your fingers to get that crumbled look. Use up all the dough to completely cover the jam layer.

Now bake! It’s ready when the peaks of the crumble start to turn golden brown.

The importance of chilling the bars

Allow the bars to cool at room temp for about 20 minutes, then transfer to the fridge uncovered.

This is a VERY important step because it allows the cheesecake and jam layers to set. If you slice into them too soon, the layers will run everywhere and you’ll be left with a puddle of peanut butter and strawberry.

They should chill for at least 2 hours. When they’re ready, run a knife along the sides that are touching the pan and lift the bars out using the parchment paper.

If the bars start to bend when you lift the paper, set it back down and continue chilling the bars. These bars should be very easy to lift out and hold together.

Slice into 9 or 16 bars, depending on how big you’d like them, and dig in!

How to store peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars

Place the bars in an air tight tupperware container and store in the fridge. They will keep for up to 1 week.

stacked peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars

For more delicious peanut butter recipes, check out my:

Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram and comment below if you make these Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, the buttons above or below this post, or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!

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stacked peanut butter and jelly cheesecake bars

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Bars


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Jenna Barnard
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes + 2 hours chilling
  • Yield: 9 bars

Description

A base layer of soft peanut butter oat cookie is stacked with peanut butter cheesecake, homemade strawberry jam, and a peanut butter oat crumble topping. It’s a fun twist on a childhood classic!


Ingredients

Homemade Strawberry Jam

  • 2 cups (280g) fresh strawberries, quartered
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) water
  • 1 cup (220g) granulated sugar

Base Layer & Oat Crumble

  • 1 1/4 cup (170g) all-purpose flour + 1 tbsp (divided)
  • 3/4 cup (70g) old fashioned rolled oats + 3 tbsp (divided)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (110g) unsalted butter, room temp
  • 1/3 cup (75g) packed light brown sugar + 2 tbsp (divided)
  • 1/4 cup (70g) creamy no stir peanut butter, like JIF or Skippy
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

  • 8oz (225g) Philadelphia full fat cream cheese, room temp
  • 1/3 cup (90g) creamy no stir peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup (55g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Homemade Strawberry Jam

  1. Combine all 3 ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  2. Bring down to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes. It will produce steam and pink foamy bubbles will form. Keep stirring and gently mash down the strawberries as they soften.
  3. It’s ready when the mixture turns a deep red and most of the pink foam has disappeared. It should also thicken and coat the back of your spoon. Pour into a glass measuring cup to make sure you have 1 cup. If it’s still way over, continue to cook until it’s reduced down.
  4. Let it sit out at room temp while you make the bars.

Base Layer & Oat Crumble

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, allowing it to hang over the sides.
  2. Combine the 1 1/4 cups of flour, 3/4 cup of oats, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Cream together the butter, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Mix in the vanilla and egg and then the dry ingredients.
  4. Press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of your prepped pan using your fingers. Bake for 8 minutes then allow it to cool at room temp.
  5. With the remaining 1/3 of the dough still in the bowl, mix in the additional 1 tbsp of flour, 3 tbsp of oats, and 2 tbsp of brown sugar to form the crumble. Transfer to the fridge while you finish the rest of the layers.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

  1. Cream together the cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
  2. Once smooth, mix in the egg and vanilla.

Assemble

  1. Spread the cheesecake batter in an even layer on top of the cooled peanut butter base layer. It’s ok if it’s still a little warm, but it shouldn’t be too hot.
  2. At this point the jam should be at the right consistency. Gently spoon about 3/4 cup in an even layer on top of the cheesecake and carefully spread it even, not to disrupt the cheesecake layer.
  3. Take the crumble out of the fridge and rub small pieces between your fingers to crumble it over the jam layer. Use it all up to completely cover the jam.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tips of the crumble begin to turn golden brown.
  5. Allow the bars to cool at room temp for 20 minutes, then transfer to the fridge for at least 2 hours to set.
  6. Run a knife along the sides that touch the pan (the jam tends to stick a little) and lift the bars out using the parchment paper. Slice into 9 or 16 bars and dig in!
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
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Meet Jenna

I’m the creator, baker, and photographer behind Butternut Bakery. Here I share desserts for every diet because I believe everyone should have a chance to indulge!

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10 Comments

  1. OMG THESE BARS!! If you grew up on PB&J sandwiches, you GOTTA make these. They were a huge hit with friends, 5/5 on taste and overall execution. The recipe/blog was a bit challenging for me to follow, just with how it was written. Would 100% make these again!






  2. This has been the most delicious and yummy dessert I’ve made yet! Thank you very much for sharing the recipe. I messed up the first batch but it still came out delicious! I was very tired when I made them, so I misread where the cream cheese and cup of sugar was supposed to go. I put it into the base :'(.

    Well, after I realized what I did, I figured the cheese cake can’t go without cream cheese, so another one went in. I added two splenda packets since I didn’t want to put so much sugar into it. It came out so soft and yummy. The second time I did it, correctly this time, was beyond delicious as well. My family loved them! I can’t wait to make more! Thank you again so much!






  3. I love peanut butter as well as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So, when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to make it, which I did yesterday. These bars are the absolute yummiest. If you like PB&J, you will love these bars.