Cranberry Jam Bars

Description

Cranberries are one of only three fruits native to North America, so what could be better to help celebrate an authentic Thanksgiving? The dough and jam can be made 3 days ahead and chilled separately. Great for Christmas, too.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) package fresh or frozen cranberries (not thawed if frozen)
  • ⅔ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
  • ⅔ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature – cut into 1-tablespoon chunks

Instructions

  1. Bring cranberries
  2. sugar
  3. and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat
  4. stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer
  5. stirring and mashing cranberries
  6. until mixture is very thick
  7. about 15 minutes. Cool completely
  8. about 30 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  10. Pulse flour
  11. rolled oats
  12. pecans
  13. brown sugar
  14. baking powder
  15. salt
  16. cinnamon
  17. and nutmeg in a food processor 3 times to mix. Add butter and pulse until mixture begins to clump. Firmly press half of dough evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Spread with jam
  18. then sprinkle on remaining dough and gently press into an even layer.
  19. Bake until golden brown
  20. 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a rack. Lift foil to remove pastry from pan and cut into bars.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins

Servings: 18

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