Old World Raspberry Bars

Several years ago we had a real nice neighbor named Dena.  They moved in shortly after we did.  She was great at making new neighbors in our new neighborhood feel welcome.  She also got me hooked on Pampered Chef.  She and her family didn’t live here long, though.  Her husband was transferred to Florida after a year.  Before she moved we had a little get together and she shared one of her favorite recipes along with a list of Pampered Chef items I should buy for the recipe.  Always the salesperson.  We exchanged emails and Christmas cards for a few years but sadly we lost touch.

Her favorite recipe quickly became one of mine.  I smile thinking of her every time I make it.  I bet she’s still getting her neighbors together.  She jokingly told me that as good as these bars were fresh out of the oven with a giant scoop of ice cream; they were even better the next morning with a giant cup of coffee.  My kind of girl.

What’s even better about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to put together.  It bakes a while but that means the house smells really good!  If you have little ones that like to help in the kitchen, this is a great recipe for them to be involved in.  It’s also a snap to make in the RV.  You’ll have neighbors smelling them bake from the oven vent if you have the micro-convection oven.  I think that’s a great way to meet the neighbors in your RV neighborhood.  I bet that would make Dena smile.

Heat the oven to 350 and grab a bowl.  Chop the pecans, not too finely because you don’t want pecan crumbs.  Coarsely chopped is probably the best term here.

Combine the flour, sugar, softened butter, pecans and egg in a bowl and beat until well mixed.

Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the mixture and press the rest into a greased pan.  You can use and 8-inch square pan or a pie plate.  I use an 11 x 7 dish that works perfectly, both at home and in the RV.

Spread the preserves on the mixture.  Drop pieces of the remaining mixture on top of the preserves.

Bake 45-50 minutes until lightly browned. If you can wait, cool completely before cutting.

Print Recipe

Old World Raspberry Bars

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 10 ounce jar (3/4 cup) raspberry preserves (or any other flavor)

Heat oven to 350.  Combine all ingredients except preserves.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups of mixture and set aside.  Press remaining mixture into a greased 8-inch square or 8″ pie plate.  Spread preserves to within 1/2 inch of edge.  Crumble reserved mixture over preserves.

Bake 40-50 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool completely.  Cut into bars or pie pieces.  Great heated with ice cream on top.