Hamdi Saidani This Sunny’s Easy PB&J Swirl Bars recipe is a chewy and salty-sweet treat, which is made with a butter cracker crust and creamy peanut butter. It’s a no-fuss take on the classic, ready in about 45 minutes plus chilling and cooling time.
Sunny’s Easy PB&J Swirl Bars Ingredients
Crust:
- 3 sleeves (28 crackers) butter crackers
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, melted
- Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
PB&J Layer:
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam, lightly whisked to loosen
How To Make Sunny’s Easy PB&J Swirl Bars
- Make the crust: Spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, allowing an overhang on the sides. In a food processor, pulse the crackers, brown sugar, and melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Chill the crust: Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up.
- Prepare the peanut butter layer: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a stand mixer or with a hand-held mixer, beat the peanut butter, brown sugar, and melted butter together until smooth.
- Assemble and swirl: Remove the chilled crust from the refrigerator. Spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the crust. Drop about 9 dollops of the loosened jam around the pan. Use a skewer or a butter knife to drag through the jam and peanut butter to create swirls.
- Bake and cool: Bake for about 30 minutes, until the peanut butter layer is set. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before using the parchment overhang to lift them out and cut them into squares.
Recipe Tips
- How to get a clean swirl? The key is to not over-mix. Drag the skewer through the dollops of jam just a few times in an “S” or figure-eight pattern to create a distinct swirl without muddying the colors.
- Can I use a different kind of jam? Absolutely. Grape jelly is the other classic PB&J flavor, but raspberry or apricot jam would also be delicious.
- Can I use crunchy peanut butter? Yes, crunchy peanut butter will work well and will add an extra layer of texture to the bars.
- How to get the crust to hold together? Make sure you are pressing the butter cracker crumb mixture very firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan. The chilling step is also crucial for helping it set.
What To Serve With PB&J Swirl Bars
These sweet and salty bars are a perfect standalone treat.
- A tall glass of cold milk
- A cup of hot coffee
- A simple scoop of vanilla ice cream
How To Store PB&J Swirl Bars
- Refrigerate: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They are delicious served chilled or at room temperature.
PB&J Swirl Bars Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 8g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Do I have to chill the crust for an hour?
Yes, this step is highly recommended. Chilling the crust solidifies the butter and helps to create a firm base that won’t crumble when you add the peanut butter layer or cut the finished bars.
Can I use a different kind of cracker for the crust?
Yes. Graham crackers or shortbread cookies would also make a delicious crust for these bars.
Why did my peanut butter layer crack?
This can sometimes happen if the bars cool too quickly. Don’t worry, it doesn’t affect the flavor, and the jam swirl often hides any small cracks.
Sunny’s Easy PB&J Swirl Bars Recipe
Description
A fun and easy dessert bar with a salty butter-cracker crust, a rich peanut butter layer, and a sweet strawberry jam swirl.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, pulse crackers, brown sugar, and melted butter to form a crumb mixture. Press firmly into the pan and chill for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat peanut butter, brown sugar, and melted butter until smooth. Spread this over the chilled crust.
- Dollop the jam over the peanut butter layer and use a skewer to create swirls.
- Bake for about 30 minutes until set.
- Cool completely before lifting from the pan and cutting into bars.
Notes
- Using a parchment paper “sling” with an overhang is the key to lifting the bars out of the pan for easy and clean slicing.
- Don’t over-swirl the jam, or you will lose the distinct pattern.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting to ensure you get clean, neat squares.
- These are perfect for bake sales, parties, or as a fun treat in a lunchbox.
