Raspberry Almond Bars (Printable)

Buttery shortbread base topped with raspberry jam and almond crumble—tender, nutty, and simple to bake.

# What You Need:

→ Dough & Topping

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds

→ Filling

08 - 2/3 cup raspberry jam

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together with a mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully incorporated.
03 - Gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing just until a crumbly dough forms.
04 - Press two-thirds of the dough firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a uniform crust.
05 - Spread raspberry jam evenly over the dough base, leaving a small gap around the edges.
06 - Crumble the remaining dough evenly across the jam layer and scatter sliced almonds over the top.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and almonds are lightly toasted.
08 - Let cool completely in the pan before using the parchment overhang to lift out and slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These bars come together so easily that you can whip them up on any busy afternoon, almost as a delightful secret weapon for surprise guests.
  • The satisfying contrast between buttery shortbread and tart raspberry jam makes it impossible to stop at just one bar.
02 -
  • One impatient attempt to slice while still warm left me with a delicious but crumbly (and unpresentable) mess.
  • Letting the bars cool completely in the pan made all the difference for neat, sturdy slices.
03 -
  • Measure your flour by spooning it gently into the cup and sweeping the top flat—saves the bars from heaviness.
  • Don't skip the parchment overhang; it makes bar removal so much easier and keeps the layers intact.

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