Raspberry Almond Bars (Printable)

Tender buttery bars with raspberry jam and crunchy almond crumble—easy, crowd-pleasing dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough & Topping

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds

→ Filling

08 - 2/3 cup raspberry jam

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
03 - Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the creamed mixture, mixing until a crumbly dough forms.
04 - Transfer two-thirds of the dough into the prepared pan and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom to form the base.
05 - Spread the raspberry jam evenly on top of the dough layer, leaving a small border around the edges.
06 - Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the jam layer, then sprinkle the sliced almonds across the top.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 28 to 32 minutes until the top is golden and the almonds are lightly toasted.
08 - Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting out using the parchment overhang and slicing into 16 squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The almond and raspberry flavors taste bakery-quality but require only pantry basics.
  • This is the kind of treat that disappears at gatherings before you’ve even set down the plate.
02 -
  • Trying to slice these while warm only leads to a jammy, crumbly mess—cooling is non-negotiable.
  • Switching up the jam totally changes the mood; cherry and blackberry have both stolen the show for me.
03 -
  • Do not skimp on cooling time—it turns neat slices from impossible to effortless.
  • Toasting the sliced almonds briefly before adding them on top spikes the nutty flavor beautifully.

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