Cozy up with these homemade raspberry jam bars – a simple, delightful treat.
You’ll love the combination of buttery shortbread and sweet, fruity raspberry jam.
You only need five ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on prep work to make them.
The result? A dreamy treat with plenty of rustic charm.
Why You’ll Love These Raspberry Jam Bars
Sweet, Fruity Flavor: These bars perfectly balance the bright, tangy jam with buttery, crumbly shortbread. This irresistible combination will make everyone’s taste buds dance.
Year-Round Wonder: Unlike seasonal desserts, these bars can be enjoyed any time of year. You can also use different jam flavors to jazz them up.
Crumbly Texture: The jam is sticky, but that shortbread is a crumbly, buttery dream come true!
Easy Entertaining: You can make these ahead of time and transport them easily without them getting messy. They’re perfect for potlucks, bake sales, or dinner parties.
Ingredients
- Raspberry Jam: For that sweetly tart filling layer. Use seedless if you want a smoother texture.
- Unsalted Butter: Forms the base of the crumbly dough. Use salted if you like, and omit the extra salt in the recipe.
- Granulated Sugar: For sweetness and a nice golden color on top.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the foundation of the dough.
- Salt: Enhances all flavors and balances sweetness. It’s essential for bringing out the buttery notes in the crust and topping.
How to Make Raspberry Jam Bars
Raspberry crumble bars are a versatile snack that works beautifully as an afternoon indulgence, a sweet addition to a brunch spread, or even a quick dessert to share with friends.
No matter when you enjoy them, the recipe is super easy and super versatile.
So, if you like oats, go ahead and add them! You can even add chocolate chips if you want to amp up the flavor.
Here are the steps:
1. PREHEAT the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. BEAT the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
3. MIX in the flour and salt on low speed or by hand until crumbly and holds together when squeezed.
4. PRESS 2/3 of the dough into the pan. Spread the jam evenly over the top, then crumble the remaining dough over the jam.
5. BAKE for 25–30 minutes, until the jam is bubbly and the crumble is golden.
6. COOL completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lift out and slice into squares. Enjoy!
Want to add oats or chocolate chips? Here’s how:
- To add oats: Use 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1 cup of rolled oats. Mix them into the butter gently and bake as instructed.
- To add chocolate chips: Sprinkle about 1/2 cup over the jam before adding the crumble topping and bake as instructed.
Tips for the Best Raspberry Jam Bars
There’s something so nostalgic about baking bars, isn’t there?
And honestly, they’re ridiculously easy to throw together. No fancy techniques, just good old-fashioned baking.
Plus, they make your kitchen smell absolutely amazing.
Ensure your bars turn out perfectly with these handy tips:
- Don’t overwork the dough. The shortbread recipe is used for the base and the topping. It should be crumbly but hold its shape when squeezed in your palm.
- Parchment paper is best. That jam will get super sticky after baking. So, do yourself a favor and line the dish with enough paper to cover all the sides.
- Use-high quality jam. Most of the flavor of these bars comes from the jam, so you want something tasty.
- Even the base layer. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the base layer firmly and evenly into the pan. Doing so will ensure consistent thickness throughout.
- Protect the borders. When spreading the jam, leave a 1/4-inch border to prevent it from bubbling over and/or burning.
- Adding the crumble. For the top layer, pinch the dough between your fingers to create crumbles of varying sizes. This will improve the texture and appearance.
- Experiment! Use different flavored jams (strawberry, blackberry, etc.), add sliced almonds to the topping, or mix lemon zest into the crust.
How to Store
Don’t worry if you have leftover raspberry jam bars. They taste great as leftovers, too!
To Store: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Or refrigerate them for up to 1 week.
To Freeze: Let the bars cool completely, then place them in an airtight container. Separate the layers with parchment paper and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.
Note: For best results, let refrigerated bars come to room temperature before serving.
More Easy Dessert Bars You’ll Love
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Banana Cream Pie Bars
Avalanche Bars
Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
Raspberry Jam Bars
16
servings10
minutes30
minutes181
kcalThese raspberry jam bars combine a rich, buttery crust, sweet jam filling, and golden crumble topping. They’re a dessert you’ll crave again and again!
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour (see notes)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the flour and salt and mix gently on low or by hand until crumbly and holds together when squeezed (it’s easiest with a stand mixer and a paddle).
- Press about 2/3 of the crumbly dough into the baking dish. Spread the jam over the top evenly, then crumble the remaining dough on top. It does not need to cover it completely.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the jam is bubbly and the top crumble is golden.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Then, lift them out and slice into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
- To add oats: use 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1 cup of rolled oats.
- When spreading the jam, leave a 1/4-inch border to prevent it from bubbling over and/or burning.
