Jam Almond Crumble Breakfast Bars, Cherry Style

I know what you’re thinking: breakfast? For reals? Well, yes. I suppose these could double as a dessert (bressert?) but these chewy bars genuinely scream BREAKFAST to me, ya know?

First of all I cut down the sugar in the chewy oatmeal bar. And because the cherry jam is naturally sweet it adds the reliable touch of sweetness and picks up where the brown sugar oatmeal cookie-ish bars leave off.

The good news is that you can make these bars with any jam you prefer! Strawberry, blueberry, raspberry… a blend of all three? And only like that, a breakfast isn’t so boring.

Line a 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper. I us a little butter to dot the bottom of the pan and the sides so the paper will stick to the pan and not flop over. Then I grease the exposed sides of the pan with butter as well.

To Make These Cherry Jam Almond Crumble Breakfast Bars Set out:

• unbleached all-purpose flour
• speedy oats
• brown sugar
• baking soda
• salt
• unsweetened applesauce
• melted butter
• cherry jam (or your go-to)
• chopped almonds

In a large bowl measure and add in the 1 cup of both flour and oats, 1/2 cup (lightly packed) light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.

Use a wooden spoon to break up the sugar and to mix all the dry ingredients together.

Add in 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce…

…and 5 tablespoons of melted (but has cooled) unsalted butter.

Mix until it comes together.

Like so ^.

Press a little over half of the dough into the bottom of the pan. This dough is s-t-i-c-k-y but manageable. I greased my fingers and that help only a little. Once you get the dough spread out, slide the pan on to the middle rack of your preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 12 minutes.

Remove and let cool for a few.

To the remaining oatmeal mixture add in 1/3 cup coarsely chopped almonds.

Measure out a heaping 1/2 cup of jam. I’m still in love with this color!

Pour the jam in the center of the bars and spread leaving a small border.

Use your fingers to form clumps of the remaining almond-studded dough and drop it all over. Then slide the bars back into the oven and continue to bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the top almond crumble is lightly golden brown.

Liiiiiike so.

Allow the bars to completely cool before removing them from the pan. I popped mine into the fridge after they cooled for a bit and when I was positive that the pan wouldn’t scorch my fridge shelf.

Ta da!

Then I cut them into way to small of squares, 16 of them. I guess I was thinking that they were like brownies or something but next time, I’ll probably cut them into 6 or 9 larger squares. These are for breakfast after all.

I reeeeallly like these. After making, baking and photographing, I had three. Hey the bars are small, too small if you ask me. I also passed one out to my daughters and made someone at the table try a square once he was home from work. They all loved them and want me to make them with other jams. Win-Win!

Enjoy! And if you give this Cherry Jam Almond Crumble Breakfast Bars recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!