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    Home » Desserts

    Published: Apr 22, 2023 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

    Nutter Butter Bars

    Jump to Recipe

    Nutter Butter bars are an amazing cookie for any peanut butter and jelly lover. This easy recipe is the ultimate PB&J cookie bar with a Nutter Butter base, a sweet strawberry preserves layer, and a crumbled topping.  These cookies with the jelly in the middle are pretty, yummy, and sure to be a kid's favorite (adults too!) 

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars plated

    Peanut butter and jelly bars are a great snack or dessert when you want something sweet and salty.  The classic crisp cookie with gooey warm fruit jelly is fantastic. I love transforming favorites into homemade dessert bars. This is a recipe favorite like my Homemade Snickers Bars.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Nutter Butter Bars
    • How to Make PB&J Cookie Bars
    • Bake & Layer the Bar Cookies
    • Storing Cookie Bars
    • PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!
    • Nutter Butter Bars

    Ingredients for Nutter Butter Bars

    The main ingredient in these Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars is, of course, the Nutter Butter cookies.  These peanut butter sandwich cookies with a peanut butter cream filling are what makes these cookies so delicious but also easy to make.

    Then you only need a few other ingredients that are likely already in your pantry and refrigerator.  I recommend only using creamy peanut butter, such as Jif or Skippy, so the cookie mixture sticks together. Use your favorite brand and kind of jelly...perfection.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars ingredients
    • Nutter Butter Cookies
    • Salted Butter
    • Flour
    • Brown Sugar
    • Peanut Butter
    • Jelly (or jam/preserves)
    • Flaky Sea Salt
    • optional - chopped peanuts

    See the recipe card for amounts & full instructions

    How to Make PB&J Cookie Bars

    This Nutter Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars recipe is so easy to make. It starts by crushing the cookies which I do by getting them in a Ziploc bag, sealing it, and smashing them with my meat mallet tenderizer.  They should be crushed as small as you can get them.

    NOTE: the PB filling will make all the crumbs stick together but once you touch them they will just fall apart.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars crush cookies

    In your mixing bowl combine all the ingredients for the cookie base. This includes finely crushed Nutter Butter cookies, peanut butter, flour, brown sugar, and melted butter.   Mix it together until it starts to stick together but should still be a bit crumbly.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars bowl with mix

    Bake & Layer the Bar Cookies

    Press the cookie base mixture into a 9x9 baking dish that is nonstick or has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Make it an even layer that covers the entire bottom and corners.   

    Bake at 350° for 15 minutes in the oven so it will set.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars bottom layer

    While the base is baking, mix together the crumble topping in the same bowl.    When the cookie base is done baking take it out of the oven and let it cool for a couple of minutes.

    Next, add the jelly and spread it evenly over the freshly baked Nutter Butter cookie bar base.   Then dollop on the crumble topping in small dots across the jelly layer. In the last step, sprinkle on some sea salt flakes and optional chopped peanuts.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars jelly and top layer

    Bake the cookies in the oven for 30 minutes.  The jelly will be bubbling on the edges and the top will be slightly brown.   Let cool on the counter for 20-30 minutes before cutting into 12 bars.

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars baked and cooling

    ENJOY!    These are like having your favorite PB&J sandwich in dessert form.  You may want to have a cold glass of milk ready when you bite into these amazing Nutter Butter bars.   

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars holding a slice

    Storing Cookie Bars

    You can store any leftover cookie bars in an air-tight container or wrap the top of the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil.  The Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars will keep on your counter for up to 3 days if sealed or covered correctly.

    You can also freeze them between layers of parchment paper. Freeze for up to a month in a resealable bag.

    Other Amazing Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes

    • FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER CUP PIE
    • OLD-FASHIONED PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
    • BEST KETO PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars close up

    PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars PIN

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

    Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, 4 Boxes of 12 Packs (4 Cookies Per Pack)
    $31.99
    Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, 4 Boxes of 12 Packs (4 Cookies Per Pack)
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/13/2025 05:06 pm GMT

    OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer
    $20.04
    OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/13/2025 11:36 am GMT

    Nordic Ware Prep and Serve Mixing Bowls Set, 3-Piece, Earth-Tones
    Nordic Ware Prep and Serve Mixing Bowls Set, 3-Piece, Earth-Tones
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

    WILTON INDUSTRIES Wilton Recipe Right Non-Stick Square Brownie Baking Pan with Lid, for Transporting Your Dessert from Home to Party, x 9-Inch, 9" x 9", WHITE
    $22.43
    WILTON INDUSTRIES Wilton Recipe Right Non-Stick Square Brownie Baking Pan with Lid, for Transporting Your Dessert from Home to Party, x 9-Inch, 9" x 9", WHITE
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    07/14/2025 01:16 am GMT

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars featured overhead plate and two nutter butters

    Nutter Butter Bars

    Angela
    Nutter Butter bars are an amazing cookie for any peanut butter & jelly lover. This easy recipe is the ultimate PB&J cookie bar with a Nutter Butter base, a sweet strawberry preserves layer, and a crumbled topping.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 404 kcal

    Equipment

    • meat mallet tenderizer
    • 9x9 baking pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 C Nutter Butter cookie crumbs about 16 cookies
    • 2 TB creamy peanut butter
    • 4 TB salted butter melted
    • 2 TB all-purpose flour
    • ½ TB brown sugar

    Jelly Layer

    • 1 C preserves/jelly strawberry or your favorite flavor

    Crumble Layer

    • ½ C Nutter Butter crumbles about 4 cookies
    • 1 TB creamy peanut butter
    • 1 TB salted butter melted
    • 3 TB flour
    • ¼ C roasted peanuts coarsely chopped optional
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes optional
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray or use a nonstick pan.
    • Crush the Nutter Butter cookies by placing them in a sealed Ziploc bag and hitting them with a meat mallet tenderizer.
    • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the first set of ingredients with the last item being the brown sugar. Mix to combine.
    • Press the cookie base layer into the prepared 9x9 dish. Make sure the layer is even and covers the bottom and corners of the pan. Bake for 15 minutes.
    • While the base is baking, in the same mixing bowl, mix together the crumble topping ingredients. For a crunchier topping add the chopped peanuts, but this is optional.
    • Once the base is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Next, spread on the preserves/jelly in an even layer. Then drop tablespoon-sized dollops of the crumble topping into spaced-out drops over the preserves/jelly layer. Sprinkle on the sea salt flakes if you are using them.
    • Bake an additional 30 minutes in the oven. The jelly should be bubbling on the edges and the top will be slightly brown.
    • Let cool for 20 minutes before cutting into 12 evenly sized squares. Enjoy!

    Notes

    STORING:
    • Nutter Butter & Jelly Cookie Bars can be stored in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 404kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 6gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 241mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 146IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.5mg
    Keyword baked, baking, cookie, dessert, easy, half-scratch, kid favorite, peanut butter, quick, simple, snack, treat
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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sandra Whitmore says

      April 12, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      I am not familiar with Nutter Butter Cookie but this recipe looks delicious.

      Reply
    2. Emily says

      April 13, 2021 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      YUM! I make homemade strawberry and raspberry jelly, that would be super delish!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 13, 2021 at 6:02 pm

        Oh Emily, these cookies would be amazing with your homemade jelly.

        Reply
    3. Allison Peteet says

      April 13, 2021 at 8:59 am

      These look soooo good. I can't eat peanut butter right out of the jar, but I love it in cookies, candies, and bars. I can't wait to make this.

      Reply
    4. Gina says

      April 13, 2021 at 11:33 am

      What an easy recipe, and looks great too! I am a sucker for Nutter Butter cookies!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 13, 2021 at 5:59 pm

        If you love Nutter Butter cookies, you will love these.

        Reply
    5. Ashley Pacheco says

      April 14, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      I never would have thought to make a dessert like this, but it looks really good! And who doesn't like Nutter Butters?

      Reply
      • Angela says

        April 16, 2021 at 10:41 am

        IKR, Nutter Butters are amazing on their own but wow on this recipe.

        Reply
    6. Lisa, Casey, Barrett Dog says

      April 14, 2021 at 1:33 pm

      What an easy recipe! We are always seeking out new things to make and this goes right up our alley with the love of Nutter Butter!

      Reply
    7. Sabrina DeWalt says

      April 14, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      These look yummy!

      Reply
    8. Marianne says

      April 16, 2021 at 3:53 am

      We love anything peanut butter, so these would go over really well in our house! Thanks for sharing this yummy little gem!

      Reply
    9. Jacqueline Debono says

      May 25, 2021 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      These cookie bars look scrumptious. I'm not sure we have nutter butter cookies here in Italy but I'll look out for them!

      Reply
    10. Shikha says

      May 25, 2021 at 11:42 am

      5 stars
      Are these nutter butter cookies available in the UK? I am not sure. Can I substitute with something else?

      I'd love to try this recipe.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        May 25, 2021 at 5:52 pm

        Amazon UK sells them!

        Reply
    11. Jere Cassidy says

      May 25, 2021 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      Making these for the hubby, he will be so happy to have a peanut butter treat.

      Reply
    12. Beth says

      May 25, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      I went through a Nutter Butter phase and remember them fondly! These look like a step up from the cookies right out of the package, what a fun recipe.

      Reply
    13. LaRena Fry says

      May 25, 2021 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Peanut butter and jelly what could be better? YUM

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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