Simple Homemade Strawberry Jam Squares (Printable)

Crumbly bars with a buttery base layered with vibrant strawberry jam and a crisp crumble topping.

# What You Need:

→ Shortbread Base and Crumble

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Filling

08 - 3/4 cup strawberry jam, preferably seedless

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl until evenly mixed.
03 - Add cold cubed butter and work it into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
04 - Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until the dough just begins to come together, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the shortbread base.
06 - Spread the strawberry jam evenly over the base, leaving a small border around the edges.
07 - Crumble the remaining dough over the jam layer in small clumps.
08 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is lightly golden brown.
09 - Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out and cutting into 16 squares.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You probably have every ingredient sitting in your kitchen right now.
  • The crumbly topping hides any imperfections, so theres no pressure to make it look perfect.
  • They taste like the kind of treat youd find cooling on a farmhouse windowsill.
02 -
  • Cold butter is everything—if its soft, the dough turns greasy instead of crumbly.
  • Let them cool all the way or the jam will ooze everywhere and the bars will fall apart.
  • Press the base firmly so it doesnt crumble when you slice through later.
03 -
  • Freeze the butter for 10 minutes before cutting it in if your kitchen is warm—it keeps the texture perfect.
  • If the dough feels too crumbly to press, add a teaspoon of cold water and gently knead it together.
  • Swap half the all-purpose flour for whole wheat for a nuttier, heartier bar.
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