3 ¾cups1 ½ pounds frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
1/3cupgranulated sugar
1tablespoonplus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1tablespoonfresh lemon juice
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
Peanut Butter Crust
2 ¼cupsall-purpose flour
¼cuptoasted wheat germ
¾cupgranulated sugar
1teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonKosher salt
6tablespoonssmooth peanut butter,cold
1large egg
2tablespoonscanola oil
2tablespoonsice water,plus more if needed
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
4tablespoonssmooth peanut butter,room temperature
4tablespoonscoarsely chopped roasted peanuts
Instructions
Making the Jam
Place all filling ingredient in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until berries are soft and mixture thickens. The berries should break down. This should take approximately 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Making the Crust and Assembly of bars
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Place flour, wheat germ, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor and pulse until well combined. Add the cold peanut butter and pulse until peanut butter breaks down into small pieces.
Add egg, oil, ice water, and vanilla, and pulse until mixture forms crumbs. If mixture seems too dry and unable to be packed into a clump, add a little more water.
Pour mixture into a large bowl. Measure out 1 cup of the crumbs and place them in a small bowl. Blend the peanuts into the crumbs in the small bowl and set aside.
Pour remaining crumb mixture into the lined pan, pressing it down evenly. Pour jam filling over the crust, again spreading it evenly.
Place small dots of the remaining 4 tablespoons of peanut butter randomly over the filling. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over the top.
Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the top is nice and brown. Allow to cool completely and chill until cold.
Gently remove the bars from the pan by holding onto the parchment paper. Cut into bars.