Fresh Strawberry Bars

I found this recipe a couple of years ago in a Better Homes and Gardens. They are really good (even Rob likes them!).


Fresh Strawberry Bars

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup strawberry jam (I use my freezer jam)
4 cups strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered

Heat oven to 350. Line 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil beyond the edges. Set aside. In large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter on medium to high for 30 seconds. Beat in sugars, baking powder, and salt until combined. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Spread dough in prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool completely on rack. Remove from pan by lifting foil. Spread jam and top with berries. Cut into bars. Serve at once or refrigerate up to 6 hours. Makes 24 bars.


Make Ahead: Wrap the peanut butter base in foil; store at room temperature up to 24 hours. Before serving, top with jam and berries. Or freeze the peanut butter base in a freezer container up to 3 months.

**After about 6 hours the bar and berries start to get soggy. They still taste ok, but definitely not as good as when they are fresh.