Streusel Topped Fruit Bars Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375*.
• Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon.
• Beat in butter just until moistened.
• Set aside 2 cups.
• Pat the rest into a greased 13x9 pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Toss apples with the 2 T flour.
• Stir in preserves.
• Spread over hot crust almost to edges.
• Mix nuts and the 2 cups oat mixture.
• Sprinkle over the apples.
• Bake for another 30 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. Combine flour, brown sugar, salt. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.Stir in oats & blend thoroughly. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of this mixturefor topping.
• 2. Press remaining mixture evenly over the bottom of a greased 13 X 9 baking pan.
• 3. Spread preserves over crumbs within 1/4" of sides of pan.
• 4. Cut in 2 tablespoons of butter into reserve crumb topping; stir in nuts. Sprinkle over preserves & press down lightly.
• 5. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 - 30 mins. or until lightly brown.
• 6. Cool in pan and cut into bars.

Steps:

• Line a 9x13 aluminum baking pan with heavy duty foil.
• Leave 2-3 inches of foil sticking out of the pan on the short sides to aid in lifting the finished product out of the pan.
• FOR THE PASTRY.
• In a small bowl or plastic bag measure and mix flours and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (can be done with a hand mixer), mix the butter, vanilla extract and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add flours 1 cup at a time, on medium speed, mixing until fully incorporated after each addition.
• Continue mixing until the dough begins to come together in large clumps.
• Press dough into prepared pan about 1/4-inch thick.
• Prick the pastry with the tines of a fork or a wooden skewer.
• Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.
• While the pastry is resting, Place rack in center of oven.
• Preheat to 375°F.
• Spread nuts on a cookie sheet and roast for 5-10 minutes, until hot and aromatic (do not burn them!) Allow to cool Bake pastry until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Lower oven temp to 350 degrees.
• Allow to cool 10 minutes on a rack, have filling and topping ready when crust is cool TOPPING.
• Combine dry ingredients, whisk to combine and remove lumps from brown sugar, rub butter into dry ingredients until it resembles coarse corn meal (a few pea sized lumps of butter are ok) add almonds and toss to combine, set aside.
• FILLING.
• In a small sauce pan heat jam to a simmer while stirring, add cornstarch/water mixture, bring back to a simmer for 60 seconds.
• Remove from heat.
• Spread filling evenly onto baked crust, sprinkle with topping and bake 20-30 minutes, until lightly browned and aromatic.
• Cool on a wire rack, remove from pan and cut into bars.
• Sift powdered sugar on top.