These Raspberry Streusel Bars from America's Test Kitchen have three delicious layers: a crispy shortbread, a raspberry filling and a crumbly streusel topping.
Raspberry Streusel Bars
Today's recipe is one of my favorites! I love a good bar dessert because they come together quickly and feed a crowd. America's Test Kitchen's Raspberry Streusel Bars are one of my all-time favorites because they taste like a pie with about ¼ the work. I've been making this recipe for years and it is always a huge hit. The crust is a bit like shortbread, crisp and delicious, the filling is perfect (thanks to a jam + fresh fruit + lemon juice combo), and the topping is streusel! What's not to love? Oh, and it's raspberry! One of the best fruits on earth.
I made these raspberry streusel bars yesterday morning to take as a treat for my Activity Day girls. I'm lucky enough to be the leader for the 8- to 11-year-old girls from church and we do activities outside of our traditional Sunday meeting a few times a month. It's the best assignment in the church! Bar desserts are perfect for that kind of gathering and everyone loves these.
Can I use frozen berries?
Yes, frozen berries work just as well in this recipe! Just make sure to thaw them before using them so that they mix into the filling well. It will taste just as great.
How do I store raspberry streusel bars?
Fruit bars like these can be stored at room temperature for two days, and four days if refrigerated. Store them in a covered container for best freshness.
Can I freeze these for later?
Wrap the bars well or store in an airtight container and you can keep them in the freezer for up to four months!
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Raspberry Streusel Bars
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: Makes 24 bars 1x
Description
These Raspberry Streusel Bars from America's Test Kitchen have three delicious layers: a crispy shortbread, a raspberry filling and a crumbly streusel topping.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ sticks unsalted butter, cut into 18 pieces and softened (1 and ¼ cups), divided
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup pecans toasted and chopped
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup raspberry jam
- ¾ cup fresh raspberries
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with a foil sling and then grease the foil (have the foil over hang the edges so that you can remove the bars to cut and serve).
- Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Add 16 of the butter pieces (1 cup, save out 2 tablespoons). Use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer) and beat on low until the mixture starts to resemble wet sand, about 2 minutes. Remove 1 ¼ cups of the mixture and place it in a seperate bowl (reserve for topping).
- Place the rest of the butter and flour mixture in the baking pan and press it into an even layer with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake the crust until it starts to smell good and the edges begin to brown, 14 to 18 minutes.
- While the crust is cooking mix the reserved flour mixture, oats, nuts, and brown sugar together. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and pinch the mixture between your fingers to make large pea-sized streusel.
- In a small bowl mash the jam, berries, and lemon juice together, leaving a few chunks of raspberry.
- Spread the berry mixture evenly over the hot crust, sprinkle on the topping. Bake until filling is bubbling and the topping is a deep golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for 2 hours. Remove from the pan using the foil and then cut into squares and serve.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pie bars, breakfast bars recipe, raspberry bars, cookie bars, cookie bars recipe, streusel recipe, easy dessert recipe, easy dessert recipe few ingredients, raspberry dessert
More delicious dessert bars
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars
- Blueberry Pie Cookie Bars
- Cheater Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Life-Changing Peanut Butter S'mores Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars
- Christmas Magic Cookie Bars
- Amazing Nutella S'mores Bars
- Rhubarb Crumb Bars
More berry desserts
- Raspberry Cheesecake Dip
- Grandma's Raspberry Cobbler
- Blueberry Lemon Muffins
- The Best Cranberry Orange Bread
- America's Test Kitchen's Fresh Strawberry Pie
- The Best Strawberry Shortcake, Two Ways
This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated in August 2019.
Raspberry Streusel Bars are tart, sweet, and have a delicious streusel topping for easily pleasing a crowd.
Angela
These were excellent. Perfect sweet salty crunchy chewy. Thank you
★★★★★
vivian
These were our Sunday dinner dessert and they were delicious! I love the contrast between the slightly salty crust and the sweet filling. Thanks for a great recipe.
m edison
WOW WOW WOW, made these and had to make a second batch. Big hit with friends. Used pistachio nuts instead. Gave some contrasting colour to the bars. You will love these using the fresh berries.
Melissa
Pistachios sound amazing! Great idea. Thank you for the feedback!
Marikay Devlin
Our sons favorite recipe! Never tried with raw fruit and nuts. Has to be a winner. Store has raspberries on sale this week! What timing!!
Lea Andersen
Wow! two of my favorites, I love nuts and raspberry jam as bread spread, but I don't know that I can use this as bars. Yay! I'll copy your recipe and served it with stockton bar hk's soctch eggs 😉
mcantrell53177@gmail.com
Raspberries are in season. There's no better time than now to make something like this. Thank you for your cooking ideas.
http://askmelissaanything.blogspot.com/2015/05/3-ingredient-pumpkin-spice-chocolate.html
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
Streusel and raspberries just belong together! I want a bite of these bars real bad!
Liz
Yum - thank you.
Rebecca
I love raspberry jam bars, oh yum. Never tried it with the fresh fruit and nuts in there too. I'll have to give this a try!