Monday, November 19, 2007

Strawberry Jam Crumb Bars

Please do not let my lack of photography skills keep you from trying these cookies (bars). They are simply the greatest bar-cookies I have ever had. I am completely amazed. No matter what I type, I will not be able to do these cookies justice. They recipe can easily be changed to whatever filling your heart desires. Oh, and the recipe makes a ton of cookies. I only made half but I will be making a full batch for the holidays with apricot or peach jam. If I were not a college student, I would easily slap a “money back guarantee” on these cookies.

So there you go, a must make, must try, hypothetical money back guarantee cookie recipe. Happy Holidays!







Jam Crumb Bars
adapted from the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook
  • 3 sticks of butter cut into small pieces at room temperature.
  • 11 oz. blanched almond finely ground
  • 3 cups of flour
  • 1 ¼ cups sugar
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 ¾ cup of jam


Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Butter and line a 15x10x2 pan with parchment paper with a 1-inch over hang. Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the almond, flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Transfer half of the dough to the prepared pan and press into the pan. Including the edges. Dough should be firmly packed with no cracks or holes. Bake rotating half through for 15-20 minutes until golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Evenly spread jam over the cooled crust. Scatter the remaining crumbs over the top of the jam. Bake rotating the pan halfway through until the top is a light golden brown about 20-22 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Run a knife around the edges to loosen the cookie from the pan. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 3-inch by 2-inch bars.

18 comments:

Katie said...

Wow, best cookies ever and a money back guarantee now these I have to try!! What a lot of almonds they use, but that only makes them sound even better - I love almonds. Your photo makes them look delicious.

Katie said...

P.S. what's the cake in the photo from your previous post? It looks yummy :)

Deborah said...

These do sound wonderful!! They look really tasty as well. I love the holidays because of all of the sweets that show up!

Anonymous said...

3 sticks of butter? No wonder they are the best you've ever had!!!!

Gigi said...

Katie: the cake in the previous post is a coffee sans the powdered sugar on top.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

These definitely need to go into my "to make" stack of recipes. Seriously yummy looking.

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Don't you wish you could take pictures like 'peabody'? She could make a cereal box look yummy.
I know your's are yummy!!!!

Annemarie said...

The greatest cookie bar you've ever had is quite a claim..! The amount of topping on these does look fab, and we all know that's the best part of a cookie bar.

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Mmm, cookie bars!

Peabody said...

I've made these before and they are fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful cookies would make a fantastic addition to any gift basket.

Frapp said...

They look yummy! Though how strongly can you taste the almonds from the perspective of someone who doesn't like almonds very much? Love the blog, added you to my favourites =)

Gigi said...

Frapp: You can't taste it very much. The cookie just has a light nutty taste. You could probably use walnuts or pecans instead.

Mallow said...

Meanwhile, I LOVE anything with almond meal in it - it almost comes off tasting more buttery to me. YUM.

Nora B. said...

Hi Gigi,
Thanks for dropping by my blog.

These crumb bars look like they will melt in my mouth, yummm! I've seen them being sold at cafes, now I can make my own. Thanks for the recipe.

Suzanne said...

I got to pull that cookbook off my shelf and give it a go-you make them look so yummy!

test it comm said...

These look good.

How To Eat A Cupcake said...

What is it about crumbs that make everything taste better??

:D