The Bar Life

Hi Blog Readers

Thanks once again for checking out my blog. I know I don't post a lot of dessert recipes on here. To be honest I don't eat dessert alot, and try to eat relatively healthy. However, when I crave something sweet I can't resist. One dish I decided to make yesterday were Raspberry Shortbread Bars. They are sweet, crumbly, shortbread bars that I think most people will love. This is an awesome recipe because you can easily substitute the raspberries for your favorite fruit filling. For example, the original recipe is made with cranberries, but I've even made these bars with a lemon filling. You really can't go wrong, and the possibilities are endless. The recipe for the bars were found at http://www.joyofbaking.com/barsandsquares/CranberryShortbreadBars.html

and I think anybody who makes these bars won't be disappointed. 

Raspberry Shortbread Bars

*Preheat oven to 375

Raspberry Filling:

8 oz fresh raspberries

2/3 C white sugar

3 tbsp water

* Boil the above ingredients for 5 minutes until thick & syrupy. Set aside & let cool while you make the shortbread.

Shortbread Crust:

2 C all purpose flour

2 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1 C unsalted butter, room temperature

1/3 C light brown sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

* In one medium sized bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, and salt.

*In a second medium sized bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add sugar, and beat until smooth. Finally, beat in the vanilla extract.

* Stir the flour mixture into the butter/sugar mixture until incorporated

Putting it together:

*Press 2/3 of the shortbread into the bottom of a 9x9 pan sprayed with non stick cooking spray

*Evenly spread the raspberry filling over the shortbread, leaving a 1/4 in border

*Crumble the remaining shortbread dough over the top of the raspberry filling

*Lightly press the dough into the filling

*Bake at 375 for 30 min or until golden brown on top

* Remove from oven, cool, cut & serve

                                                    Try these. You won't regret it.

Thoughts on the recipe: I think these raspberry bars are an awesome dessert. The dough is nice and crumbly when you take a bite, and the raspberry filling is very flavorful with so few ingredients. When I make these I normally get 8 bars the size of the ones in this picture. This recipe is so simple that it would be easy to double the recipe & bake 2 batches. Also, you could make the dough and filling ahead of time, and bake off the bars when your ready. I recommend trying out this dish, and let me know if you try any other fruit combinations that work. Enjoy.