Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

Eli is my little PBandJ monster. He asks for it everyday at lunch, and then excitedly requests it again at supper. I don't often let him have it days and days in a row, much to his disappointment, but to avoid the inevitable freak out when denied I decided to whip up some Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars that he could have as a snack.

They are super Peanut Buttery and delicious! Pour yourself a glass of milk before you start eating them because you will need it!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 - 2 cups jam/jelly
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (or salted if you prefer), chopped - optional

Cream the butter and sugar together then add the vanilla, eggs and peanut butter and mix until completely combined.
In a separate bowl combine the flours, soda and salt, then add into the peanut butter mixture and mix until just combined.
Spread 2/3's of the dough into a greased (I parchment line mine) 8x8 pan (for thinner squares try a 9x13 pan). Spread the bottom layer with the jam and ensure that it is completely covered. Add the remaining dough on top of the jam, the easiest way to ensure coverage is to drop small blobs of dough all over the surface, they will spread out while baking, and then sprinkle with the chopped peanuts if using.
Bake in a 350 oven for 40-45 minutes until the top has started to turn golden brown.

Adapted from this recipe.