Raspberry & Almond Oatmeal Bars
I've been baking and freezing lots of holiday goodies in anticipation of the "Great Cookie Box Assembly Day". Most cookies and bars freeze quite well and its helpful for me to bake ahead (when time allows) and then box and wrap them right before delivering to friends and family.
Here's one of my recipes that shows up in every Christmas cookie box. It's an easy to make bar cookie that's packed with delicious raspberry jam and hearty oats. Over the years I've noticed that the quality of jam really makes a huge difference in the flavor. I only use Bon Maman Raspberry Preserves or homemade if I have it on hand. And please feel free to adjust the amount of almond extract to your taste.
Raspberry & Almond Oatmeal Bars
1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/4 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. unsalted butter
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 to 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 jar (13oz) best quality raspberry jam
1/2 c. sweetened coconut
Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Mix together flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix until blended into dry ingredients. Cut butter into small pieces and using a pastry cutter or fork, mix in with the dry ingredients. Mixture will be very crumbly.
Reserve 1 cup of crumb mixture and add in 1/2 c. coconut. Set aside.
Press remaining mix into the bottom of the pan. Spread jam evenly over the crust. Then top with remaining coconut crumb mix.
Bake for 23-27 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Cut into bars.
Makes 18-24 bars. Enjoy!
22 Responses to “Raspberry & Almond Oatmeal Bars”
yummyyyyy…
These sound wonderful! I have homemade raspberry jam on hand so I think I must make these SOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!Thank you for the recipe.
I’m having a cookie exchange this week—-perfect!
Oh my, these look absolutely delicious 😉 🙂 I just wish I could reach through the computer screen and eat one right now!!!! Thanks for the yummy photos and the recipe 😉
Do you have a way to keep up with your posts via email? I just don’t want to miss anything and I”m not always checking blogger, but I do check my email all the time 😉 🙂
Have a great week. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
yummy & the way you styled the photo is most inspiring.
k
these look wonderful! i’m always looking for things to add to my recipe box! thanks, susan
Thanks for sharing Heather, they look delicious! A perfect little treat and they must be healthy since they have Rasberries and Almonds in ’em 😉
They look heavenly! I’m obsessed with peanut butter and raspberry preserve sandwiches.
Just added you to my blog roll, as I can’t miss a day of checking in.
Blessings! Jenny
http://www.misssavvychic.blogspot.com
These look positively delicious. I’ll definitely be trying these!
These look yummy. I love anything with raspberries, so will have to give these a try. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Oh yum! I’ve got to try them… love the ‘cigar’ gift box idea too. 🙂
Merci Heather-these are just the perfect bars to make for my holiday gifts-can’t wait to get started. Thank you for the tip about the preserves-I agree. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
So gorgeous, love the little papers separating them too. You just have the best styling! ~Lili
Sounds yummy & looks so pretty, too!
OMG!!! Made the cookies yesterday. It only took 10 minutes. I used my Cuisinart to pulse the butter flour mixture. They are wonderful. The preserves were at my local Publix. Easy Peezy. Bad, bad but I had one (maybe 2) for breakfast this morning. Heather, your blog is beautiful and inspiring.Happy holidays.
They look wonderful. I couldn’t help but notice the cigar box they are sitting on? Do you use those as container/gift boxes for your baked goods? My husband is a cigar smoker so there are tons (and I really mean tons) of them out in our shop. I will have to see if the tobacco smell lingers in there-I don’t think so as I have several in the house-sorry just thinking out loud for a moment!
Oh, wow…I SO have to make these this weekend! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Wow.
I think even I could bake those………..
These look delicious, can’t wait to try them out! Thanks.
These look yummy! I love coconut AND raspberries!
xo
jeanne
I made these wonderful cookies last night. Wow – they are extra delicious! Easy too. The almond extract takes the flavor to the next level. Thanks so much for sharing this on your gorgeous blog.
These have been added to my holiday cookie list — we decided they are keepers! They are now in the freezer and are or at least WERE on a plate of goodies I brought to work. Yum! Thank you for sharing this and all the other good things you do!
Comments are closed.