Blogging Marathon #137 Week 1, Day 3
Theme : Sweets

It’s a common tradition for a many to carry a small gift when you are visiting someone, especially for the first time. I used to buy something for the home. But now over the years, our gift giving has changed. One of the reason is almost everyone has what they need and what you buy may not suit their space at all.

So nowadays, we usually buy plants or take a tray bake with us. My husband loves both the ideas. This streusel bar is one of those gifts.

This recipe is from another one of my favorite baking books – Family Baking Book by The America’s Test Kitchen. I have had this book for almost ten years and I use it a lot even now. In fact I made a cake from this book last week as a birthday gift. Like I said, one of my favorite baking books!

I feel tray bakes are the easiest for transporting because you can just carry the pan and bring it back or you can bake in a disposable aluminum pan too eliminating the need to bring your pan back. It’s not liquid so you don’t have to worry about splashes in your car ride too. I mostly bake brownies but a jam bar was on my mind for a long time.

Read on for the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 1/4 sticks butter , softened
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup raspberry jam
• 3/4 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

1. Pre heat oven. Grease and lime a 9 x 13 inch pan. Keep aside.
2. Cut butter into smaller pieces. Set two tablespoons aside, it for the topping.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt. Add (all but the 2 tablespoons set aside) butter into the flour mix and beat using a hand or stand mixer until it resembles wet sand. Reserve one cup for the topping. Set it aside.
4. Press the remaining flour/butter mix to the pan to form an even layer. Bake until edges begin to brown, about 15 minutes or so.
5. To the reserved flour mixture, add the oats, brown sugar. Mix well. Now add the 2 tablespoons of reserved butter and mix it in with your hands until it’s all well mixed. Your streusel mix is ready.
6. In a small bowl, mash the jam, berries and lemon juice. Spread this on top of the baked crust and top with the prepared streusel. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden brown, a little over 20 minute mark.
7. Remove from oven. Let it cook completely. Remove from pan and cut and serve!