PB & J Bars
PB & J Bars
Peanut butter and jam is a classic combination that we all know and love. There are so many recipes out there combining these two iconic flavours, but I wanted to create a healthy breakfast bar that is nourishing and easy to grab on your way out the door. These are just that! They bring all of the goodness of the flavours of peanut butter and jam, but are also full of healthy fats and protein to keep you full. They’re also easy to pack with you for work.
I’m just in love with these pb & j bars! You can imagine any type of jam with these bars by choosing your favourite berry to add on top. Blackberries were my choice for the “jam” component, but raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries would also be delicious! These breakfast bars use wholesome ingredients like oats, almond flour, nut butter and berries. They’re everything a breakfast bar should be!
What you will need:
Almond flour - Almond flour acts as a binder with the oats and butter for the base of the breakfast bar. I love using almond flour because it is naturally gluten-free, grain-free and low-carb. You can find it at most grocery stores these days.
Oats - The oats are a part of the base and topping of these bars. I use organic sprouted oats. If you are using grains, such as oats, its always better to use the sprouted version for you gut. Of course, any kind that you have on hand will work.
Brown sugar - The brown sugar mixes so well with the oats to sweeten things up and give kind of that oatmeal-y flavour. You can use any granulated sweetener that you like here.
Cinnamon - I love to add a little cinnamon for flavour. It’s optional, but highly recommended as it is really the only spice that is used in this recipe.
Butter - We always use unsalted butter for baking so that the result isn’t overly salty. If you have to use salted butter, then be sure to omit the added sea salt.
Peanut butter - I recommend using natural, smooth peanut butter with no added sugar for this recipe. Make sure the ingredients consist of just peanuts or peanuts and salt.
Powdered sugar - Since we are using natural peanut butter, we will need to sweeten it up a little. The powdered sugar also helps to thicken the peanut butter mixture so that it is the right consistency for the bars.
Blackberries - The berries are the star of the show! I absolutely love using fresh blackberries for this recipe, but you can use any berries. TIP: If you are using frozen berries, make sure that they are complete thawed and drained before adding them to the bars.
These breakfast bars are so easy to make and totally kid-friendly. They will love them for breakfast or an after-school snack. Because they are not nut-free they may not be suitable for taking to school, but for an at-home treat they will surely suffice. You know those kids are hungry when they get home from school!
PB & J Bars
PB & J Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup sprouted oats
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups fresh organic blackberries
Instructions
- Line an 8”x 8” baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a food processor, pulse together the oats, almond flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and melted butter until a moist crumb forms.
- Once eveything is combined, remove 1/4 cup of this mixture and set aside for the topping. Add the rest to your baking pan and press down with parchment paper until the mixture is compact and flat. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter and the powdered sugar together until fully combined. Spread it on top of the oat layer evenly with a spatula.
- Add the blackberries in a single layer on top of the peanut butter. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove bars from the oven and sprinkle on the reserved oat mixture. Crumble it over the top with your hands. Bake for another 15 minutes.
- Once done baking, let the bars cool completely and then transfer to the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
- Enjoy!