Blackberry Shortbread Bars

Blackberry Shortbread Bars

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust and Crumble:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted, cold butter, cut into ½ inch pieces

Filling:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 (5.3 ounce) container plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups fresh blackberries washed and patted dry
  • 3 tablespoons blackberry jam stirred
  • Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Instructions

Make the shortbread:

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place a piece of parchment paper over the bottom of the pan allowing it to extend up and over two of the sides by approximately 1 inch.
  • In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, lemon zest and salt and pulse until well blended.
  • Add butter pieces and pulse until butter breaks down to the size of peas and mixture looks like moist crumbles.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl.
  • Place ¾ cup of the mixture into a separate bowl to be used later for the crumb topping. Press remaining shortbread crumbles evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
  • Bake crust for 12-14 minutes. It will not be brown. Cool slightly. Maintain oven temperature.

Make the filling:

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, flour, yogurt and vanilla until well blended.
  • Pour the mixture evenly over the crust.
  • Place blackberries into a bowl and add jam. Using a large spoon gently combine jam with the berries. Do not overmix.
  • Spoon blackberry mixture over filling.
  • Scatter reserved crumbs evenly over the blackberry filling.
  • Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the top looks nice and brown and berries are bubbling.
  • Allow to cool completely.
  • Dust with confectioners’ sugar and cut into bars.
  • Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Makes approximately 9-12 bars depending on how big you cut them