Buttery shortbread & jam, such a deal with! -Baking a Second

Strawberry Bars: Buttery shortbread, candy, fruity jam, and a layer of crumb topping. Easy to make & so scrumptious!

I significantly can’t consider we're already midway by way of summer time! The place is the time going???

It’s about time I get my butt in gear and share these strawberry bars with you. I’ve been that means to do it for method too lengthy!

I’ve been making these jam bars time and again since early spring. The minute the climate begins warming up I begin craving fruity desserts! Pineapple upside-down cake, lemon meringue pie, peach cobbler… you title it, I simply can’t get sufficient!

And these bars are not any completely different. There’s simply one thing in regards to the distinction of buttery, crumbly shortbread and candy strawberries! It calls to me. Give these a attempt to you’ll see what I imply.

WHAT ARE STRAWBERRY BARS?

These bars are made up of three completely different parts:

1. A young, buttery shortbread base,
2. candy, summery strawberry jam, and
3. a beneficiant layer of crumb topping.

The whole lot will get layered right into a square baking pan and baked to golden perfection.

Then it may be reduce into squares and devoured!

HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY BARS

Whereas there are 3 completely different items to this recipe, every one is tremendous easy.

Let’s begin with the underside layer.

THE SHORTBREAD BASE

Start by stirring flour, powdered sugar, and salt collectively in a big bowl.

Then reduce within the chilly butter.

Be sure that your butter is COLD. This fashion the shortbread will come out so, so tender.

I take advantage of a pastry blender to chop in. It’s nice for making nearly any sort of pastry. Apart from shortbread, I additionally use it for pie crust, biscuits, scones, puff pastry… even for croissants, in the event you can consider it.

In the event you don’t have one, right here’s a hyperlink: Pastry Blender. Just a few {dollars} and also you’ll undoubtedly get loads of use out of it in the event you wish to bake.

Or, you need to use 2 knives, or simply rub the butter in along with your fingertips.

You’re searching for a combination that resembles massive bread crumbs. Items of butter no bigger than a pea, all coated within the flour combination.

Press this into the underside of your greased, lined baking pan. I used a 9×9 pan, however an 8×8 will work too- your bars will simply come out somewhat thicker and smaller.

Partially bake this base layer for about 20 minutes, or till it’s beginning to look set.

THE STRAWBERRY FILLING

The following layer is simply strawberry jam. Straightforward as could be, proper?

In the event you actually wish to dazzle, strive utilizing home made strawberry jam. You solely want 3 easy elements, and it tastes like nothing else! Try my previous standby recipe: Strawberry Jam. I’ve been making it each summer time for years!

However store-bought works nice. And it doesn’t should be strawberry! Use any sort of jam you want.

Listed below are a couple of concepts:

Simply to call a couple of!

I discover the proper taste stability with about 8 ounces of jam. It’s a skinny layer that actually permits the buttery-ness of the shortbread and crumb topping to shine. However in the event you like your desserts on the sweeter facet, use as much as 12 ounces of jam.

THE CRUMB TOPPING

This topping is only a variation on my Fundamental Streusel Recipe.

Begin with melted butter, then add flour, sugar, oats, lemon zest, and salt.

Toss the whole lot collectively till crumbly, then sprinkle all of it overtop the jam.

Bake till simply barely beginning to look golden on the highest. (In my oven, this takes about 35 minutes.)

Then reduce into squares and garnish with a flurry of powdered sugar!

ARE THESE HEALTHY?

All of us have our personal definitions of what's or isn’t wholesome lately, so I’ll refer you to the dietary label within the recipe card under for the nitty-gritty particulars.

However I can let you know that these jam bars are egg-free and nut-free, so in the event you or somebody in your life has sensitivities, it is a nice recipe to make.

I've not examined it myself, so I can’t assure the outcomes, however in the event you’d wish to strive making a gluten-free model, use a gluten-free flour mix that subs 1:1 for normal flour.

Listed below are a couple of good choices:

I’d love to listen to about your outcomes! Drop a remark under; I’m positive it is going to be useful to different readers.

And in the event you’d wish to make this dairy-free and vegan, use a dairy-free butter product that subs 1:1 for normal dairy.

CAN YOU USE FRESH STRAWBERRIES?

I’ve tried including contemporary sliced strawberries to the filling, and whereas it seems attractive and tastes unbelievable, it would make the bars somewhat soggy. Personally, I would depart them out.

However in the event you completely should, use them sparingly, and err on the facet of barely overbaking to assist evaporate out among the extra moisture.

CAN THIS BE MADE IN A DIFFERENT SIZED PAN?

If that you must feed a crowd, double this recipe and it may be made in a 9×13 pan.

I may also add that the bars you see within the photographs and movies listed below are fairly massive, at about 3-inches sq.. And that's mirrored within the dietary data. It seems nice however personally, I can solely eat about half a bar in a single sitting.

HOW TO STORE

These preserve very well at room temperature, for fairly some time! Simply preserve them in a zip-top bag and they need to be good for at the very least per week!

Or you may freeze them. They need to final for a couple of months within the freezer. Thaw them at room temperature or within the microwave for a few minute or two on a low setting.

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Strawberry Bars: Buttery shortbread, candy, fruity jam, and a layer of crumb topping. Easy to make & so scrumptious!

Course:

Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack

Delicacies:

American

Key phrase:

jam bars, strawberry bars, strawberry jam bar recipe, strawberry jam bars, strawberry jam bars recipe

Servings: 9 3-inch squares

Energy: 484 kcal

For the Shortbread Crust:

For the Strawberry Filling:

To Make the Shortbread Crust:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 levels F.

2. Flippantly mist a 9×9-inch baking pan with non-stick spray, and line it with parchment.

3. Place the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a big bowl and stir to mix.

4. Minimize within the chilly butter till it is no bigger than pea-sized.

5. Switch the combination to the ready pan, and par-bake for 20 minutes.

To Make the Strawberry Filling:

1. Unfold a skinny layer of jam over the partially baked shortbread (it is okay if it is nonetheless scorching from the oven).

To Make the Crumb Topping:

1. Stir the melted butter, flour, sugar, oats, lemon zest, and salt along with a fork till crumbly.

2. Sprinkle the crumb topping all around the jam layer.

3. Bake till simply barely starting to show golden on prime (roughly 30 to 40 minutes).

4. Cool fully, then reduce into squares and garnish with powdered sugar.

Diet Details

Strawberry Bars

Quantity Per Serving (1 sq.)

Energy 484
Energy from Fats 189

% Each day Worth*

Fats 21g32%

Saturated Fats 13g81%

Trans Fats 1g

Polyunsaturated Fats 1g

Monounsaturated Fats 5g

Ldl cholesterol 54mg18%

Sodium 206mg9%

Potassium 81mg2%

Carbohydrates 69g23%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 30g33%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 630IU13%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 2mg11%

* % Each day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie weight-reduction plan.

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