Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) whole wheat flour
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (120 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (240 g) grainy peanut butter
- 1 cup (240 g) jelly or jam of your choice (strawberry, raspberry, or grape are popular)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- ½ cup (50 g) chopped nuts (e.g., peanuts, walnuts, or almonds) - optional
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease or line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir in the melted butter and grainy peanut butter until well combined.
- Press 2/3 of the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, reserving the rest for topping.
- In a separate bowl, mix the jelly with lemon juice (if using) until smooth.
- Spread the jelly mixture evenly over the crust.
- Crumble the remaining 1/3 of the crust mixture over the top of the jelly layer. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped nuts.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before slicing into squares.