This oatmeal bar is a super easy, one-bowl, delicious jam oat bar recipe. Today I made Raspberry Oatmeal Bars, but other flavors of jam we have used and loved are apricot jam, blueberry jam, and blackberry jam. There is no limit to the variations of this wonderful recipe for jam squares.
Why we love this recipe
- The number one reason I love this recipe for jam bars is that it was passed down to me by my grandmother. She mailed me her handwritten recipe with only the words They Are Good added. She is right; they are good!
- This recipe is simple! Using just one bowl to mix the cookie base and crumb topping. Plus, this recipe uses simple, basic ingredients in most pantries.
- The flavor! When you bite into these cookies, you will notice the chewy cookie base, the sweet taste of the jam, and the crisp crumble topping. Heaven!
Other cookie recipes that have been handed down to me are my mom's Unbaked Cookies and Corn Flake Meringue Cookies.
Table of contents
Recipe Ingredients
All you need to make these excellent Raspberry Oatmeal Bars are:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Old-Fashioned Oats
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Baking Powder
- Vanilla
- Your favorite flavor of jam or preserves. Today we are using seedless raspberry jam.
Step-by-Step Directions
Soften the butter.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 13" x 9" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 1 Place two sticks of softened butter into a mixing bowl. Beat until creamy.
Step 2 Add the brown sugar, baking powder, and vanilla (not shown).
Continue to mix until well blended and creamy.
Step 3 Add the all-purpose flour and old-fashioned oats.
Use a wooden spoon or your mixer to blend until lightly crumbly.
Step 4 Make sure your baking dish has been sprayed with non-stick spray.
If you use a dish smaller than 13" x 9", you may need to increase the baking time.
Step 5 Pour ⅔rds of the cookie mix into the baking dish and press firmly to create the jam bar cookie base.
Step 6 Spread the raspberry jam, or whichever flavor of jam you prefer, over the cookie base.
Step 7 Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the top of the raspberry jam.
Step 8 Bake the Raspberry Oatmeal Bars until golden brown. Cool before cutting.
These jam bars are lightly crisp from the butter and the oatmeal. Sweet from the fruit jam and brown sugar. And oh, so yummy!
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Recipe Faq's
No. You can use your favorite type of jam or preserves. I like the seedless raspberry and apricot the best!
Yes, it will. I have also used plant-based Almond Butter in this recipe.
Mom tips
Soften the butter or margarine first; it mixes up a lot better.
I have used plant-based butter, Almond Butter, to make these oatmeal jam bars, and it worked perfectly!
Adding the jam or preserves to a bowl and stir. This helps make them easier to spread over the bottom crust.
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Recipe
Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter or Margarine
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Brown Sugar firmly packed
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 ¼ cups Rolled Oats I always use old fashioned
- 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- 16 ounce Seedless Raspberry Jam or your favorite flavor
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Beat the softened butter or margarine until creamy. Put all the remaining ingredients, except the preserves, into the mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix the ingredients until crumbly.
- Put over half of the mixture in a 13″ x 9″ pan that has been coated with non-stick spray. Pat down.
- Put preserves in a bowl and stir. Pour preserves over the cookie base. Spread to coat the bottom base. Add the remaining oatmeal/flour mixture over the top and lightly pat down.
- Bake for 35 – 45 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool on a rack and cut into squares. Makes about two dozen squares.
Sue
Thank you for sharing. Delicious, making them a second time per everyone’s request.
Barbara
Looks like a delicious recipe. Can they be frozen to make in advance for a party?
Cook This Again Mom
I have never tried to freeze these cookie bars. I really don't know how they would do.
Amy
My Mom makes a similar bar "cookie" with strawberry preserves - my favorite cookie since I was a little kid!! I can't wait to try them with apricot. Yum!
cookthisagainmom
We love these cookies. Raspberry preserves are also excellent! I hope you enjoy the apricot. 🙂