Raspberry Shortbread Cookie Bars

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Raspberry Shortbread Cookie Bars are made with a buttery shortbread crust and filled with sweet raspberry jam, topped with more shortbread and drizzled with a light glaze. Made with only 6 ingredients and easier to make than cookies!

PIN these Shortbread Jam Bars to try later!

Pin

Raspberry Shortbread Cookie Bars

These Jam Bars couldn’t be any easier and simpler to make. The buttery shortbread base and topping comes together with only 5 ingredients and the jam filling makes these bars extra indulgent.

Cookie Bars are one of my favorite desserts to make because they are so easy and don’t require any rolling or scooping. They make a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert with the vibrant color of raspberry jam.

I love serving these bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh raspberries on top! If desserts filled with jam are your jam 😉 try my Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies, Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies, Giant Pop Tart, and Homemade Pop Tarts.

Pin

Pin

key ingredients

• Butter: You want to use softened salted butter so it creams together easily. If you use unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the dough.
• Sugar: Granulated white sugar to add sweetness.
• Egg yolk: You’ll need 1egg yolk to bind the ingredients together. It’s best if the egg is at room temperature so it can blend in with the cookie dough.
• Vanilla extract: You could also use vanilla bean paste instead. If you want a sweeter flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract.
• Flour: Spoon and level regular all-purpose flour when measuring it. Be sure not to scoop it out of the bag using the measuring cup. This way, you won’t accidentally measure out too much. 
• Jam: The star ingredient! I love using store-bought raspberry jam or raspberry preserves but you could make your own from scratch. Any favorite flavor of jam will work!

Pin

how to make raspberry shortbread cookie bars

Prepare baking pan: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl with a hand or stand mixer, beat together the softened butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add flour: Slowly add in the flour, mixing until shortbread batter has formed. Be sure not to overmix.

Assemble shortbread mixture, add jam and bake: Spread 3/4 of the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan and evenly spread with a rubber spatula or your hands. Top with raspberry jam and evenly spread over the top with a spoon.

Add shortbread crumble: Crumble the remaining shortbread dough with your hands and sprinkle it over the jam. Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown.

Make glaze: Top bars with a simple icing by combining powdered sugar with melted butter and 1 tablespoon of milk. Whisk and add more milk to get desired consistency. Drizzle icing over cooled bars, cut into bars, and enjoy!

Pin

recipe variations

• Add sprinkles: Bake these jam bars for Valentines’ Day (or any holiday). Add festive sprinkles on top to add fun and more color.
• Add Crunch: Add a handful of your favorite chopped nuts to the cookie dough or to the top of the bars. Great nut options for these cookie bars are chopped almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free flour if you prefer.
• Topping: Top cookie bars with a dust of powdered sugar, a light vanilla glaze, or drizzle with melted white chocolate chips.
• Switch up the jam: Use your favorite flavored jam to fill the center of these cookies. Some other favorite flavors besides raspberry is grape jam, blueberry jam, apricot, jam, blackberry jam, cherry jam, and orange marmalade. You could also use homemade fresh fruit jam or jelly!

Pin

pro tips

• Make these bars into mini bars by cutting them into smaller squares.
• Sharp knife: Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into perfect squares.
• Room temperature ingredients: It’s always important that all of your ingredients are at room temperature. This will help the dough mixture combine together more smoothly.
• Use parchment paper or foil: Make sure you completely cover the baking dish or pan with parchment paper or foil so you have an easy clean up and it will prevent the bars from sticking.

Pin

leftovers & storage

To Store: Place cookie bars in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store for up to 7 days. You can also cover a dish with plastic wrap and store in a cool area.

To Freeze: Freeze any leftover bars for up to 3 months. For best results, let the cookies defrost at room temperature when ready to eat.

Pin

Pin