Jam Bars with Crumble Topping Recipe - Chisel & Fork (2024)

Buttery crumb bars filled with a tasty jam and topped with an oatmeal crumble make these jam bars an easy and tasty breakfast or dessert.

I'm all about recipes that you can have for breakfast or dessert especially easy recipes like pumpkin oatmeal muffins, banana bread baked oatmeal, and chocolate chip scones.

And these crumble bars fit right in. For me when I have desserts with fruit in them, there should be some type of streusel or crumb topping. Whether it's an apple crumb pie or blueberry crisp or an apple and blueberry crumble. Or you can even go old school with this pear cobbler.

With that in mind, these jam bars with crumble topping are one of my favorites. That buttery base just melts in your mouth, but even better, you can make different type of bars depending on the jam you have. Oh and as I mentioned, crumb toppings make everything delicious.

Most crumb bars have the same topping and base but I wanted to have oats in my topping so I changed it up. And I have no regrets about the extra step. After one bite, you'll be asking why these have been missing in your life.

These jam bars really are the perfect summer treat for a party as you can make ahead and easily transport them. Plus they'll be gone in minutes.

Ingredient Notes

• All-purpose flour - used in both the base and topping.
• Butter - used for the base and topping. It helps create that melt-in-your mouth texture for the base and crumble topping.
• Light brown sugar - adds sweetness to the topping and base.
• Jam - they're called jam bars for a reason. Use your favorite flavor.
• Old-fashioned oats - helps give some texture to the topping.

Ingredient Swaps

As with any recipe, you can switch things up if needed. Some variations include:

• I use all-purpose flour but whole wheat flour is a good substitute.
• I like the using light brown sugar, but you can use granulated or dark brown sugar as well.
• If you want additional crunch/nutrients, add in some nuts to the topping like almonds, pecans or walnuts.

Step-by-Step Photos

Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl and then use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour. Add in the wet ingredients, mixing until combined. Press into a parchment-lined 13x9 baking pan.

Bake at 375°F until the center is just set, about 12-15 minutes. While cooling, make the crumble mixture.

Spread the jam onto the base and sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

FAQs

The Key to Light and Flaky Base and Topping

The key is cold butter. Use a pastry cutter or knives to get the cold butter into small crumbs. You then use your hands to shape and pat the base into the pan. Yes your hands will get messy, but the end product is worth it.

But you can also use a food processor. For both the base and topping, use short pulses to mix the butter until you get a pea-like texture.

Equipment

The equipment you use is important to how the recipe turns out. What is needed is the following:

• Bowls - used to mix the ingredients.
• Pastry Cutter - helps mix in the butter to create the base and crumb topping.
• Baking Pan - you want a 9x13 pan.
• Offset spatula - helps spread out the jam in the pan.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• Line your pan with some parchment paper so you can easily remove the jam bars.
• If you want even more crunch for the topping, remove ½ cup each of the flour and oats and add 1 cup of pecans.
• Leftovers will last in the fridge for 4-5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.

Other Dessert Recipes

If you’ve tried these jam barsor any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow meonFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

More Dessert Recipes