Out of This World Raspberry Bars….

 

 

I have been making these bars for years and they are sooo good, people are always asking for the recipe.  These are not on my list of healthy recipes but are over the top yummy.  They would be great for Fourth of July and really good for a brunch dessert, if there is such a thing?

FYI:  I always double this recipe if I am serving them to more than just my immediate family, otherwise they will be gone within seconds….

Out of This World Raspberry Bars

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of butter ( 2 cubes)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup of raspberry preserves

 

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients except the raspberry preserves.  Beat at low speed until well mixed, about 2 minutes.  Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the mixture.  Press the remaining dough into the bottom of an 8 inch square baking pan. (When I double the recipe I use a 13×9 baking dish and it works perfect)

Now, spread the jam over the dough but not right up to the edge.  I leave about 1/2 inch  “margin” all the way around, so the jam doesn’t try and leak out .  Now crumble the remaining mixture over the top, it will almost cover all the jam, and bake.  I under bake everything so the original recipe which I have adjusted, suggested baking them for 40-50 minutes, but I only bake them 32-35 minutes.

Make sure you let them cool in the pan for at least an hour or they will fall apart when you cut them.  Also, you may want to line the baking dish with parchment paper or foil because then after the hour you can lift out the paper and cut them so much easier.  I always do this for all my cookie bars and brownies, saves on cleaning and makes cutting neater.

Enjoy and hopefully once you take a bite you will forget how many calories could possibly be in each bite.  I have no idea, but imagine it isn’t a pretty number.

 

Have a great weekend…