Fruit Shortbread Bars

A soft, buttery shortbread base topped with sweet fruit preserves and crunchy shortbread crumbles, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. They melt in your mouth and are sure to please any crowd. Perfect for cookie exchanges, tea parties, or baby showers! These fruit shortbread bars are incredibly addictive.

Makes 24 bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup salted butter, softened

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves (or your favorite flavor)

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until they are thoroughly blended.

3. Add the flour and mix until it combines with the butter. The mixture will be crumbly, but you should be able to pinch the cookie dough so it holds together.

4. Place half of the dough mixture into the base of your baking dish. Use the palm of your hand or the bottom of a measuring cup to press it down firmly until it's well compacted in the dish.

5. Spread fruit preserves, gently, over the bottom layer of dough.

6. Crumble remaining dough into little pieces and scatter them over the preserves. Avoid pressing them down!

7. Bake for 30-35 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely.

8. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into 24 slices.

NOTES: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature.