trissa marie: Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

I must say, Raspberry Oatmeal Bars are some of the most delicious dessert bar things ever!! And it always saddens me because when I make them and take them to an activity or something, they get eaten quickly...and I hardly ever get to save any for later...

I also have this recipe completely memorized since I made them almost 4 different times within a two week span. (They are seriously that good...and addicting!) And they are just way too easy to make!

I seriously want to make more and eat them all just by looking at this picture... But that there is the finished product

Prep time : approx 15 min.
Cook time : 35 min
Yield: 9-12 bars (depending on how you cut them)

BTW, I tend to make a double batch of this stuff because really, one is just not enough. But here is the recipe for a normal batch.

Ingredients:

1 cup all- purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda,
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats: old fashioned (I honestly don't know if it matters what kind of oats you use. I always use quick oats because it's what I already have on hand almost all the time...)
1/2 packed light-brown sugar (I usually just use golden brown sugar. Not sure what the difference is)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (Room temp works a little nicer!)
3/4 cup raspberry jam, seedless if preferred (You really can use any flavored jam that you'd like. I don't really measure this out either. I just put in what looks like enough. And I use homemade raspberry jam. So good!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8in baking dish (I only use glass baking dishes for this) with aluminum foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang of foil on two sides. Grease foil.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in oats and brown sugar, and use clean fingertips (as needed) to break up brown sugar clumps. Add butter, and using fingertips, work butter into mixture until evenly moistened.

Add 2 cups of the oat mixture to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Spread raspberry jam (or any other flavored jam) into an even layer over oat later, coming within 1/4-inch of all edges. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining oat mixture, then slightly press into jam layer.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 34-38 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container. (Though you may not need a container if you eat them all!)