Name: Seeded Peanut Butter and Jelly Oat Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 27 min
Total time: 37 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy and unsalted works best); 2 tbsp ground flaxseed; 1 tbsp hemp seeds or chia seeds; 1/2 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1 + 1/2 cups quick rolled oats; 1/2 cup whole wheat flour; 2 tbsp milk; 3/4 cup jam (strawberry, raspberry, or mixed berry); 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds or peanut, chopped

Is there a more classic pairing than peanut butter and jelly? These PB&J bars are a fun new way to enjoy this delicious combination.

These oatmeal bars are made with peanut butter, oats, maple syrup, and whole wheat flour. The jam gets added on top to bring that bright burst of flavor.

What type of jelly or jam to use?

You can really use any of your favorite types of jam in this recipe. Look for something that is sweet and pairs well with peanut butter. Some of my favorite options are raspberry jam or strawberry jam. You could also use grape jelly or a mixed berry jam in this recipe.

Choose something that spreads nicely so you can get a little bit if jam in every bite.

Peanut butter jelly oat bars in a baking pan.

Tips for making these oat bars

Pack down your first layer. To make sure these bars have a nice base, press down the peanut oat mixture into the bottom on the pan. You can do this with a spatula, the bottom of a measuring cup, or with your hands. Having this good base layer will help the jam not seep through the bottom and it makes it easier to hold.
Use a creamy peanut butter. Try to find a nice creamy peanut butter for this recipe. It makes it much easier to mix in with the other ingredients than a thick crunchy peanut butter. Also, try to find an unsalted peanut butter. If you only have salted, add about half of the salt in the recipe.
Let it cool after baking. If you try to cut into these bars too early they tend to fall apart. I like to let them cool to touch and then you can even place them in the fridge for 10 minutes to let it harden a little more.