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Growing up, I used to always look at my friends’ lunches with envy over their freshly baked treats. The brownies, the cookies, the homemade bars…..My own mom was never much of a cook, which meant that my own lunches were usually just a random assortment of pre-packaged convenience foods. And I swore to myself that when I had kids, their lunches would be so much better!

Well, I can’t say that my kids lunches never include prepackaged snacks–they definitely do–but I do enjoy including a sweet homemade treat whenever I can. These yummy peanut butter & jelly bars have quickly become a family favorite. They are incredibly quick and easy, take just a few easy ingredients, and my girls absolutely love them!

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Here is what you need:

1 box butter pecan flavored cake mix (can also use yellow cake)
1/2 cup softened butter 
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup peanut butter chips (about 1/2 a bag–can also use butterscotch chips)
1 cup grape jelly (or your favorite flavor)
 
 
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Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees; beat together cake mix, peanut butter, butter, and egg in mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed for about 30 seconds, or until well mixed.

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Step 2:  Slowly add oatmeal to bowl, scraping with spatula if necessary, until oats are blended in.

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Step 3: Add peanut butter chips to bowl and mix well.

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Step 4:  Divide mixture into thirds. Press 2/3 of oat mixture into greased 9×13″ baking dish.

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Step 5:  Spread jelly over-top of oat mixture.

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Step 6: Crumble remaining oat mixture over jelly. Bake 35 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool completely, then cut into bars.

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Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

This classic combo is re-vamped in a yummy dessert that will please children young and old alike!

Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings 16

Ingredients

  • 1 box butter pecan flavored cake mix (can also use yellow cake)
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup peanut butter chips (about 1/2 a bag--can also use butterscotch chips)
  • 1 cup grape jelly (or your favorite flavor)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; beat together cake mix, peanut butter, butter, and egg in mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed for about 30 seconds, or until well mixed.

  2. Slowly add oatmeal to bowl, scraping with spatula if necessary, until oats are blended in.

  3. Add peanut butter chips to bowl and mix well.

  4. Divide mixture into thirds. Press 2/3 of oat mixture into greased 9x13" baking dish.

  5. Spread jelly over-top of oat mixture.

  6. Crumble remaining oat mixture over jelly. Bake 35 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool completely, then cut into bars.

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Am I the only one who missed out on homemade treats as a kid? What did your school lunches include?

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