Berry Good Bars - August, 2023.

Summertime brings lots of fruit choices.

My favorite is blueberries, straight from a local farm stand.

They are even better if put on top of a sweet something.

Here’s what I’m baking this month.

• Ingredients
• Bottom Layer
• 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon apricot jam (or a substitute jam)
•  
• Top Layer
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• â…“ cup packed light brown sugar
• â…“ cup quick cooking oats (not instant)
• 3 cups fresh blueberries (washed and thoroughly dried)

• Directions
• Grease a 9” baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
• Dust with flour and tap out the excess
• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the Bottom Layer
• Beat the butter and both sugars until smooth
• Add the egg and continue beating until well combined
• Measure the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Sift together directly into the batter. Mix gently. With a large spoon, stir in the jam.
• Leave the batter a little streaky.
• Spread the dough evenly in the baking pan and bake for 12 minutes.
• Remove and set aside
•  
• For the Top Layer
• whisk the lemon juice and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the sugar and oats keep stirring.
• Gently stir in the blueberries and toss so the oat mixture lightly covers all the berries.
• Spread the mixture over the cooked bottom layer and bake for 15 minutes. The berries should be shiny.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for at least one hour. Cut just before serving.
• 12-16 pieces