Thursday, June 4, 2015

Easy Raspberry Jam Bars

So someone brought be a raspberry bar at work a year ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.  I'm still on the hunt to remake the exact recipe, but this came pretty close.  You guys know my baking abilities...they are limited.  So I went out on the world wide web and found this super easy peasy recipe.  What's awesome is that I keep most of these ingredients on hand and I bet you do too. 


I want to try this recipe with fresh raspberries, but making it with jam is SO easy.  And speaking of, you can really use whatever jam you have on hand.  Charlie thinks these tasted like "really awesome breakfast bars."  I must warn you they are more dessert than breakfast, but I don't hate the idea of bringing these to a brunch.  In fact, I kinda like it.  I kinda like it a lot. 


Ok.  So.  Start by mixing all of the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, oats, and salt...


...and then add your room temp butter and incorporate with your hands. 


I doubled the recipe so it would work for a 9x13 pan.  I would recommend doing the same especially if you are bringing these for a crowd.  Press four cups of the mixture into the bottom of a foil lined pan.  Make sure to spray the foil with Pam otherwise these will be tricky for you to remove.


Spread the jam out over the base, but leave a boarder.  When the bars bake in the oven the jam will run and you don't want it seeping over the edges.  If that happens, the jam will burn and the outside will look fugly. 


Top the jam with the rest of the crumb mixture and press down gently with your hand.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.  DEAR GOD these smelled good. Guess what I'm making tomorrow?


Let them cool for as long as you can stand it.  I lasted a total of 30 minutes.  So you totally don't have to, but I'm obsessed with using a sieve to sprinkle powdered sugar on top.  I think it looks so pretty and official. 


These were delish and RIDICULOUSLY easy to make.  Now that I know how easy bars can be, I'm going to start making them more often.  Get excited.  This pregnant lady likes to bake (really really easy recipes) and has a serious sweet tooth.



Here's the recipe for Easy Raspberry Jam Bar Recipe (adapted from Allrecipes)

1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar 
2 Cups All Purpose Flour 
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda 
1/2 Tsp Kosher Salt 
2 Cups Rolled Oats 
1 Cup Butter  
1-1/2 Cups Good Quality Raspberry Jam 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 pan with foil that's been sprayed with Pam.  Combine all of the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Add the butter (that's room temp) and incorporate using your hands until it's nice and crumbly and evenly distributed.  Press 4 Cups of the mixture onto the bottom of the pan.  Spread the jam out and leave a boarder.  Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture on top and press down with your hand.  Bake until golden brown, about 35-45 minutes.  Let cool, cut, and sprinkle with powdered sugar if you like.  

Stay hungry!