Description
Sweet raspberry bars blend buttery shortbread with tangy fruit for an irresistible dessert. Layers of crumbly crust and rich raspberry filling promise delightful moments of pure indulgence you’ll savor to the last crumb.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Fillings:
- ¾ to 1 cup raspberry jam or preserves
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 226 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking vessel by lining a rectangular pan with parchment paper, ensuring excess paper hangs over the edges for effortless extraction of the finished dessert.
- Create a rustic crumb mixture by combining melted butter with granulated and brown sugars, incorporating vanilla and a pinch of salt. Gradually fold in flour and rolled oats until the texture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs.
- Compress approximately two-thirds of the crumbly mixture into the pan’s base, establishing a sturdy, compact foundation for the raspberry confection.
- Distribute raspberry jam uniformly across the preliminary crust, optionally enhancing the fruity layer with delicate lemon zest for an aromatic complexity.
- Scatter the remaining crumb mixture across the jam surface, creating a textured, uneven topping that will transform into a golden, crisp layer during baking.
- Transfer the pan to a preheated oven and bake until the surface achieves a light golden hue and the jam begins to gently bubble and caramelize around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the dessert to cool completely within the pan, permitting the layers to set and stabilize.
- Utilize the parchment paper overhang to carefully extract the entire dessert, then slice into precise, uniform squares or rectangular bars using a sharp knife.
Notes
- Create a stable base by firmly pressing the crumb mixture into the pan, ensuring an even and compact crust that won’t crumble when cutting.
- Keep jam layer thin and consistent to prevent overwhelmingly sweet or soggy bars, using about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of high-quality raspberry preserves.
- Customize the recipe by swapping raspberry jam with other fruit preserves like strawberry, apricot, or blueberry for varied flavor profiles.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to help them set properly and achieve clean, sharp edges without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg