These jam bars are super easy to make! The shortbread only takes 7 basic ingredients you probably already have on hand, then you top that off with your favorite pre-made jam or jelly and garnish it with a crumble topping (made from the shortbread base) and a dusting of confectioners’ sugar. I added strawberry jam to my bars because the bright red color goes well with Christmas, but you can use raspberry, apricot, plum, peach, pear, blueberry etc. The sky is the limit with these jam bars!
If you love bars, be sure to check out a list of our family favorites below the recipe card.
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Amish Christmas Jam Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour *see note
Toppings:
- 1 1/2 cups jam or jelly of your choice *see note
- 1/2 cup crushed walnuts or pecans
- Confectioner's sugar optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350:
- Cream butter and sugar until smooth and no streaks of butter are remaining. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt to the wet ingredients, then mix until a ball of dough can be formed (this dough will be sticky).
- Press 2/3 of the shortbread dough into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 13 by 9-inch baking dish, reserving 1/3 of the dough for later. Spread the jam over top until an even layer is coating the shortbread.
- Combine the reserved shortbread with the crushed nuts, then break it into smaller pieces and toss evenly over the layer of jam.
- Bake the bars in the preheated oven (350) for 30-35 minutes, or until the jam is bubbly and the crumb topping is golden. Allow to cool, then sprinkle confectioners' sugar on top if desired. For best results, allow to chill for several hours or overnight before cutting. Enjoy!
Notes
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Additional Cookie Bar Recipes You May Enjoy:
- Browned Butter Christmas M&M Bars
- Amish Oatmeal Rhubarb Bars
- Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Sheet pan Monster Cookie Bars
- Best Ever Peanut Butter Blossom Bars
- Amish Apple Oatmeal Bars
- Amish Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
- M&M Dream Bars
- Fudgy Chocolate Revel Bars
Ingredients needed: Vanilla extract, butter (I use salted), walnuts or pecans, egg yolks, salt, baking powder, confectioners’ sugar (optional), sugar, flour and jam.
Step 1: Cream butter and sugar together until smooth, then add vanilla extract and egg yolks. Mix until well combined.
Can I use melted butter?
No, I do not recommend using melted butter. Melted butter will not create air pockets when whipped with sugar like softened butter does. Those little air pockets are vital to getting a good texture in the shortbread base!
Step 2: Add dry ingredients and mix until a sticky ball of dough can be formed. Be sure to mix it well to incorporate all of the flour.
Step 3: Press 2/3 of the shortbread dough into the bottom of a greased or parchment lined 13 by 9-inch baking dish, reserving 1/3 of the dough for later. Spread the jam over top until an even layer is coating the shortbread.
Step 4-5: Combine the remaining shortbread with crushed walnuts or pecans, then sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the layer of jam. Bake the bars in the preheated oven (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 30-35 minutes or until the jam is bubbly and the topping is a nice golden brown. Allow to cool.
Oven temps and troubleshooting:
Some ovens run hotter or cooler than others, so keep a close eye on the bars because the baking times of 30-35 minutes are a rough estimate. My oven tends to run hot, so I like to use the convection setting which uses a fan to evenly distribute the heat. If the bars are baking too slowly for your liking, you can increase the heat. If they are browning too quickly you can cover them with foil or reduce the heat.
Step 5 continued: Once the bars have cooled, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar over top (optional), then serve and enjoy!
Note on adding confectioners’ sugar:
In my opinion, these bars are sweet enough without adding the confectioners’ sugar, but the dusting of powdered sugar gives them a cute winter look that you may wish to have incorporated into your Christmas cookie platter or gift boxes.
Storage notes:
Keep these bars refrigerated when storing for up to a week. I do not recommend keeping them at room temperature due to the fruit jam in the bars, which can grow harmful bacteria if left exposed to room temperature for more than several hours. For long term storage, these bars will freeze well if tightly wrapped or sealed in an airtight container.
Happy Holidays! May the love and peace of Jesus be with you this holiday season! -Marilyn Stoltzfus Peight.
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