bar1Its the third day of an amazingly beautiful weekend, and also the third day of grilling.  I needed a dessert for my menu that was easy to make, transportable and that you could just grab and go.  At first I thought about making cupcakes but quickly discovered I had a shortage of eggs.  That led to me brainstorming on what I can make that didn’t need eggs and I remembered one of my favorite bars.  It was a  Milk Chocolate and Raspberry bar and that inspired me to create this similar but quite original bar.  It has a graham cracker and oat base with a gooey center made of  orange scented strawberry preserves dotted with jewels of white chocolate.  My taste testers approved this one big time…and so do I.  Enjoy!

Strawberry, White Chocolate and Graham Cracker Bars

5 Graham Crackers

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 stick butter, cold

4 oz white chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 cup strawberry preserves

1 tsp orange juice

 

Yields 18 bars

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Pulse graham cracker in a food processor until it is finely ground.  Add flour, oats and sugar to food processor.  Cut butter into cubes and add to food processor and pulse until combined.  You should see tiny pieces of butter throughout the mixture.   Press 1/2 of mixture into the bottom of a 8 by 8 pan.  Bake for 7 to 10 mins.  Remove from oven.  Mix orange juice with strawberry preserves and spread to cover the warm base.  Sprinkle white chocolate over the top of the strawberry preserves.  Spread the remaining mixture and gently press.  Return to oven and bake for 15-20 mins.  Cool completely for about 1 hour before cutting.

 

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