Jam-less Jam Bars (Cookie Bars) Recipe

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Scene:

A mother lovingly makes dessert for her family. The family is elated as she’s made her famous Jam Bars! Eventually a kid speaks up and asks why they are called Jam Bars? There isn’t any jam? There is no good answer… other than they taste better with chocolate.

jam-less jam (cookie) bars
Mmmmm Jam-less Jam Bars!

That was my family. Always calling these cookie bars, Jam Bars. Even though there is no jam. The official reason is that my mom found a recipe named Jam Bars, and instead of making it as the recipe calls for, she changed it and substituted chocolate for the jam. (I’m using the phrase cookie bars, as that’s the closest “food label” that we could think of. They’re kind of in their own category of awesomeness.)

It’s just become a running joke in my family, and confuses people their first time, but they get over the misnomer once they’ve tasted them.

Here’s the kicker: No one can remember if we’ve ever had them with jam. They are so good my mother’s way that no one wants to bother with making it any other way. Well once we introduced these to one of our panelists from our Showdowns, she decided they were so good, we’d have to try them the original way with jam. What if they’re even better?

Jam-less Jam bars with jam
Jam-less Jam bars with jam

So she made them with jam instead of chocolate. (Must have lost her mind.) And we can confirm that they are good. The best way to describe them would be if someone set out to make a dessert Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich, and made it awesomely sweet. However, we still prefer them with chocolate. My mother knows a thing or two, after all!

I highly recommend you give them a try as my family makes them. And you can have a running joke with your family too. Plus it’s pretty much the easiest recipe to make… ever! Just one pot, one pan and bake! A perfect recipe, really. But if you want to try them with jam, simply spread half the batter in your pan, spread over that, and then spread the rest of the batter over that.

Enjoy!

Jam-less jam (cookie) bars

Jam-less Jam Bars

The easiest most delicious cookie bar recipe you'll ever bake! And no Jam!
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Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Oven at 350 degrees
  • Pan (Size is not important as it just makes the bars thicker or thinner.)

Ingredients
  

  • Chocolate chips Use your desired amount, see instructions.

Beat ingredients well to form batter

  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar

Mix well into batter

  • 1 1/4 cup Flour (If desired, can mix in oats for part of the flour)
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 3/4 tsp Baking Powder

Instructions
 

  • Beat the first grouping of ingredients well.
  • Mix second grouping of ingredients into the batter formed in step one.
  • Mix desired amount of chocolate chips into batter. We recommend going heavy, but we basically make the batter look like a chocolate chip cookie.
  • Spread into a pan. Grease first if your pans needs it.
  • Bake 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Optional (with Jam)

  • If you want to try with jam, spread half the batter into the pan. Then spread 1/2 cup of whatever jam you like. Spread the rest of the batter on top. Everything else is the same.
Keyword cookie bars, Cookies, Dessert, jam bars, jam-less, jamless

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