Easy Old-fashioned Jam Squares

Name: Easy Old-fashioned Jam Squares
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 12 bars
Ingredients: 225 gram (8oz) unsalted butter; 140 gram (5oz) sugar; 1 egg; 450 gram (16oz) plain flour; 3 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; 450 gram (16oz) strawberry jam

User Reviews

5.0

360 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings
12 bars
Calories
426 kcal
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
International

Easy Old-fashioned Jam Squares

Damien Carter

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This easy jam squares recipe is just like grandma used to make - nostalgically old-fashioned, buttery and packed with fruity jam!With a shortbread crumble topping that's way more indulgent than oatmeal jam squares, this recipe is quick, easy and perfect for beginner bakers.

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Ingredients

Servings

225 gram (8oz) unsalted butter softened
140 gram (5oz) sugar
1 egg room temperature
450 gram (16oz) plain flour
3 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt optional: you can omit the salt if using salted butter
450 gram (16oz) strawberry jam or other jam of choice

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Instructions

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. You can use a stand mixer, hand mixer or a food processor.
Whisk the egg in a separate bowl and add it to the butter and sugar. Beat again until the egg is fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt together.
Add the dry ingredients to the butter, sugar and egg mixture.
Work the mix together with your hands. Be patient as it's a very dry mixture, but it will come together. The dough will be quite stiff.
Shape the dough into log. Wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/356F/gas mark 4.
Line a 20cm x 20cm baking tin with baking paper. Leave a slight overhang as it makes it easier to lift the traybake out later.
Cut a ¾ piece from the log of dough and place the other ¼ back in the fridge for now.
Use the rough side of a cheese grater to grate the dough into coarse crumbs. It helps to do the grating on a very large plate or a large chopping board.
Spread the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.
Briefly warm the jam in the microwave until it's slighter runnier and easier to spread.We find that 45 seconds to 1 minute usually does the trick, stopping halfway through to give it a stir.
Evenly spoon the jam over the crumb base.
Grate the remaining quarter of dough with the cheese grater.
Sprinkle the crumbs over the top of the jam.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden brown on top.
Allow the bake to cool completely in the tin before removing it. It's crucial not to lift the bake from the baking tin until it has completely cooled down. We like to speed up the process with a 10 minute blast (or longer) in the fridge.
Use a sharp knife and cut into 12 squares or bars.

Notes

It might seem dry, but that’s normal for a shortbread texture! Don’t be tempted to add liquid - it will come together and give you the perfect short, buttery crumb.
Use up to 500g of jam for a thicker layer of preserve, or opt for a bit less if you prefer a lighter filling.
For uniform crumbs, chill or freeze the dough before grating it.
Roll it into a log, wrap it in cling film and refrigerate for at least an hour. If you’re having trouble grating it, pop it in the freezer for a few minutes to firm it up.
Slightly warm the jam before spreading - it makes it way easier to get an even layer on your dough.
Allow your traditional jam squares to cool completely before slicing. We recommend popping the tin in the fridge for a while to get sharp, clean slices.
With these simple tips, you’ll get jam crumble bars that are perfectly shortbread-y-buttery, jam-filled and slice-ably-delicious!

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 426kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 66g (22%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 54mg (18%) Sodium 344mg (14%) Potassium 79mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 30g (60%) Vitamin A 488IU (10%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 79mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 426 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	426kcal	21%
Carbohydrates	66g	22%
Protein	5g	10%
Fat	16g	25%
Saturated Fat	10g	50%
Polyunsaturated Fat	1g	6%
Monounsaturated Fat	4g	20%
Trans Fat	1g	50%
Cholesterol	54mg	18%
Sodium	344mg	14%
Potassium	79mg	2%
Fiber	1g	4%
Sugar	30g	60%
Vitamin A	488IU	10%
Vitamin C	3mg	3%
Calcium	79mg	8%
Iron	2mg	11%