Raspberry Bars

Prepare to be amazed.  Well, you have to actually MAKE them first.  You are making every single recipe I post, right?  Okay, well, if you aren't, you should start now.  'Cause these are delicious. 

Remember how I said we picked fresh raspberries at my aunt's house last weekend?  These bars were the fruits of my labor.  Or the kids' labor.  They picked more than I did.  They also ate more than I did, which is why I ate more of the bars.  Fair trade, right?

If you don't have access to fresh berries, or it's the middle of winter and you still must have these, just use frozen.

Here's the recipe with my notes:

Raspberry Bars

Filling
3 1/2 C raspberries
1 1/2 C sugar
2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/3 C oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Crumb Layers

2 C oatmeal
1 C brown sugar
1 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda

To make filling, combine ingredients in saucepan.

 Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and let cool until only slightly warm.

 I literally could have sat down with that pot and a spoon, and finished off at least half of it.

For crumb layers, combine ingredients and mix until crumbly.

Hands work good.

 Press 2/3 of the mixture into bottom of a greased 9 x 13 pan or baking dish.

 When filling is cool, spread over bottom layer in the pan.

 Top with remaining crumb mixture.

 Bake at 350 until topping is golden and the filling is bubbly in the center, about 40 minutes.

 Try to stop yourself from eating the entire pan.

I did myself a favor and sent some home with my sister and shared some with a neighbor.

Here's a piece on my plate:

 Now go make yourself some!

P.S.  Thank you, Russ, for sharing your secret recipe.  My tastebuds are eternally grateful.