Raspberry Breakfast Bars
These lack nutritional value entirely, and are perhaps better suited to a tea time or midday snack. All the same, I often make them in the morning for afternoon consumption only to have half the pan devoured right out of the oven.
METHOD
Prepare the crust:
Preheat oven to 350°
Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with canola spray
Melt:
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter
In a small mixing bowl combine:
2 cup flour
1/3 cup powdered sugar
Pinch salt
Add butter to dry ingredients and stir with a fork to combine.
Press the mixture into the baking pan evenly. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden.
Remove from oven and spread a layer of raspberry jam on the crust (I probably use about ¼ cup or a bit more).
Top with about ½ cup streusel (see recipe below) and return to the oven for about 15 minutes or until the jam bubbles up and the streusel is golden brown.
Allow to cool for a good 10 minutes before cutting.
Streusel:
Combine in a mixer with the paddle attachment:
1 ¼ cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oats
1 T cinnamon
½ t salt
½ t nutmeg
Add and mix gently for 2-3 minutes until just combined:
¼ cup (½ stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Keeps well in the fridge and in the freezer indefinitely. Be sure that it’s well covered to protect it from absorbing odors.