Savvy Entertaining

Delicious Raspberry Bars

Way back during my junior year of college, I somehow worked it out to have Fridays free from classes.  It was awesome. Then I realized I really, really needed a job, so I found one babysitting.

Fridays were great days for me. I got to go hang out at a nice house with the sweetest little baby, and the fun lady I babysat  for always gave me open range in the kitchen. She kept a secret stash of  delicious raspberry cookies, only sharing their hiding place with me because her husband and older son would devour them all in seconds. So I managed to not eat them all when I babysat. But even one of them was plenty. They were rich and delicious and divine.

Even though that baby is now a college student, I still remember how good those cookies tasted (and how much I loved babysitting Jake).

This recipe is close to what those cookies tasted like, especially if you dust them with powdered sugar before serving.

Try them out and enjoy!

Ingredients for Raspberry Bars

Combine the crust ingredients until crumbly.

Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the baking pan.

Much to everyone's surprise, I made raspberry jam this year and boy is it tasty!

Spread the jam over the crust.

Sprinkle jam with remaining crust.

Once bars are cooked, remove from oven, cool and then dust with powdered sugar.

Raspberry Bars

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup raspberry jam

Powdered sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in oats and sugar. Cut in butter with a fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Press two-thirds of the mixture into an 11 x 7 inch pan. I gave mine a light spray of PAM. Once you have the crust pressed into the pan, top evenly with jam. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.

Ta-Da! Don't you just want to eat one now!

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna