Mixed Berry Jam Bars

Today I decided to try something new!  I made my own jam for my Mixed Berry Jam Bars.  Don't

Mixed Berry Jam Bars

freak out and think...I can't do that!  How did you do that?  I experimented and tried it.  When my husband and I cleaned out our big freezer over the weekend, we found some bags of frozen berries.  I wanted to use them up, and not let them continue to sit in our freezer, so I made jam.  Here's exactly how easy it was, oh and by the way...I didn't add any pectin, but I did use some cornstarch.  It's what I had on hand, but I don't see a problem with using tapioca starch.

Mixed Berry Jam

Ingredients:

• two bags of frozen mixed berries, strawberries, or peaches
• 1/2 c. of sugar
• 1 - 2 tsp. of lemon juice, more added if needed
• pinch of salt
• cornstarch slurry, equal parts of cornstarch and water (about 1 - 2 tbsp.)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a medium saucepan.  
2. Bring mixture to a boil.  
3. Turn heat down to simmer to cook down the fruit.
4. Once the fruit mixture is cooked down, use an immersion blender to get rids of the large chunks of fruits.  
5. Make the cornstarch slurry.  Add cornstarch to a small bowl, add water, and stir gently to combine.  
6. Add the slurry to the fruit mixture and stir.  The mixture should become thicker.  
7. Taste your jam and adjust any seasonings.  

Yields: about 3 1/2 cups

Serve with ice cream, in jam bars, over toast or bagels

Step 1

Steps 2 and 3

Steps 4-7

Now that the jam is done, I let it cool for a bit and got started making the oat mixture for the jam bars.  Another super easy recipe for you to enjoy!  Basically, mixing all of the ingredients together in a large bowl, spreading half of the mixture in a 13x9 baking dish, topping with the jam, finishing with the remaining oat mixture, and bake!  You've got this!

Mixed Berry Jam Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup veggie oil (you can also use 2 sticks of butter, but wanted this to be dairy free)
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (I've used both quick cooking and old fashioned, use whatever you have on hand)
• 1 1/2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Mixed Berry Jam (Recipe Above) or use a 10 to 12 oz. jar of your favorite jam or jelly

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13x9 baking dish.  I make it easy and use cooking spray.
2. Combine all of the above ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix to combine.  
3. Add half of the mixture to the baking dish.  Press to spread and cover the bottom of the dish.  
4. Top mixture with the jam.  Use about 1 cup or so of the Mixed Berry Jam.  You want a decent layer of the jam covering your oat mixture or else it will get too crunchy after it's baked.  
5. Scatter the remaining oat mixture on top of the jam.  It should cover most of the jam with some tiny areas of the jam showing through.  
6. Bake until brown for 30-40 minutes.  Let it cool before cutting and serving.

Yields: 12-15 bars

Step 2

Steps 3 and 4

Step 5

Enjoy!