Jam Shortbread Bars

These Jam Shortbread Bars are the perfect example of baking made simple. We’re using the same dough for the crust and the topping, and you can use any jam you’d like for the filling. The whole thing comes together really fast!

I made some homemade jam this week, and decided to put it to use with these super yummy bars- you’ll love them. Let’s get to it!

How to Make Jam Shortbread Bars

We’re starting off with a super simple shortbread dough. It comes together with just a few ingredients, starting by whipping together some butter and sugar.

Add in some vanilla extract, salt, and flour, and then mix everything together until you have a very crumbly dough. It should hold together when pressed, but the mixture will look very crumbly and won’t fully come together in the bowl.

We’re going to take about 3/4 of this mixture and press it into the bottom of a greased square cake pan. Then, spread your jam all over the crust. I like to give the jam a quick 10 seconds in the microwave just so it’s a little easier to spread.

Finally, crumble the rest of the shortbread mixture on top, being sure to leave spots where the jam is peaking through. Then it’s off to the oven until it’s set and lightly golden brown.

Tips & Tricks for Jam Shortbread Bars

These bars come together quick, but I have a few tips to help along the way!

• Splurge for some good butter if you want! The base cookie recipe here is shortbread, and there’s only a few ingredients, so it’s a good time to use the good butter if you’ve got it- it’s great either way though!
• The dough will be very crumbly and it won’t come together with a hand mixer. It should hold together when pressed though- that’s how you know it’s mixed through.
• Use any jam you like here. I’m using some strawberry blackberry jam, but really anything you like will work here! Blueberry, peach, or orange marmalade would all be great options!
• I’m at about 5,000 ft. above sea level and I find that most people who live between about 3,000-7,000 ft above sea level do not need to make any adjustments to my recipes.

Hope you guys enjoy these!

4.67 from 3 votes

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Jam Shortbread Bars

Servings 9 bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbs. vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/4 cup jam

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 inch square cake pan with baking spray. Optionally, line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal, and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Then add in the vanilla extract, flour, and salt, and mix until a very crumbly dough has formed. Sprinkle about 2/3 of the dough into your prepared baking sheet and press down evenly and firmly to create your crust layer. Spread the jam evenly on top of the crust. Then sprinkle the remaining dough in small clumps all over the top of the jam, spreading fairly evenly, and leaving areas where the jam peaks through.
3. Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until the top of the bars is golden brown all over. Cool completely in the pan before removing, slicing, and optionally dusting with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Dough-Eyed

Hello and welcome! My name is Nicole, and Dough-eyed is a food blog for people who want to bake for their family and friends in high-altitude areas. Think of me as a friendly voice there with you in the kitchen, here to give you confidence when you’re baking, and to help you with the struggles of baking at high-altitude. Come back every week for new recipes, tips, and advice on high-altitude baking!