How to Make the Perfect Raspberry Bars
American · Easy · 40 min · 16 servings
These raspberry bars feature a buttery oat crumble both on the bottom and top sandwiching a bright jammy raspberry filling that makes them a colorful and kid friendly dessert. Kids love the sweet tart raspberry layer peeking out from between the golden crumbly oat layers making these bars as fun to look at as they are to eat.
Why this recipe works
This Raspberry Bars recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 40 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 210 calories with 2g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1.5 cup all purpose flour
- 1.5 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted
- 0.25 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup raspberry jam or preserves
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Make the Crumble
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl stir together the flour oats brown sugar baking soda and salt. Pour in the melted butter and mix until the mixture forms moist clumps that hold together when pressed.
Step 2: Press the Bottom Crust
Reserve about one third of the oat crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining two thirds firmly into the bottom of a parchment lined 8x8 inch baking pan to form an even base layer.
Step 3: Add the Raspberry Filling
Spoon the raspberry jam evenly over the pressed oat crust and spread it with a spatula to within a quarter inch of the edges. Leaving a small border prevents the jam from burning against the hot pan sides.
Step 4: Add Topping and Bake
Crumble the reserved oat mixture evenly over the raspberry layer pressing very lightly so some pieces remain chunky. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cool completely before slicing.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- raspberry jam → strawberry jam blueberry jam or apricot preserves for a different fruit flavor
- all purpose flour → gluten free oat flour blend for a gluten free version
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Spreading the jam too close to the edges which causes it to bubble over and burn onto the pan
- Slicing the bars before they are completely cool which causes the jam filling to run and make the bars messy
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 210 calories, 2g protein, 30g carbs, 9g fat, 2g fiber.
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