Simple Homemade Strawberry Jam Squares

# What You Need:

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour

02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar

05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

06 - 1 large egg

07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

08 - 3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

03 - Add cold, cubed butter and cut into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips until texture resembles coarse crumbs.

04 - Add the egg and vanilla extract; mix gently until dough just comes together, avoiding overworking.

05 - Press approximately two-thirds of dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the shortbread base.

06 - Spread strawberry jam evenly over the base, leaving a small border around the edges.

07 - Crumble the remaining dough over the jam layer in small clumps.

08 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top turns lightly golden.

09 - Cool completely in the pan before lifting out using parchment overhang and cutting into 16 squares.

01 -

They come together in under an hour and use ingredients you probably already have.
The buttery crumble melts in your mouth and balances the bright sweetness of the jam.
You can swap in any jam you like and they still turn out beautifully every time.

02 -

Cold butter is non-negotiable, it creates the crumbly texture that makes these squares so good.
Let them cool completely or the jam won't set and you'll end up with a sticky mess on your hands.

03 -

Use parchment paper with plenty of overhang so you can lift the whole block out cleanly and cut perfect squares.
If your jam is very sweet, cut back the sugar in the dough by a tablespoon or two to keep the balance.