During strawberry season, I prepared a few batches of strawberry jam. As with any jam that is prepared with a fairly small amount of sugar, it doesn’t keep as well as the sugar loaded jams. So, instead of waiting for it to spoil, I’ve decided to use some of it to prepare the following tasty mini bars.
To make things a bit more interesting, I substituted some of the flour in the dough with lightly toasted pecan, which added a nice nutty flavor. To make the dough more crispy and crumbly, I also substituted some of the flour with fine semolina. A bit of cinnamon added another layer of aroma that worked so well with the fragrant strawberry jam.
The bars turned out very tasty and fragrant. Cutting them into mini size squares made it easier to serve them as part of a dessert buffet, but they can be cut into any size you prefer. Try them and enjoy.
Notes:
* I used homemade strawberry jam (recipe can be found HERE), but any good quality store bought can be used instead. For best results, lightly puree the jam, so it will be smoother and easier to spread over the dough.
* Any other fruit jam can be used instead of the strawberry.
* If you prefer sweeter bars, increase the amount of sugar in the dough to 1 cup, and use a sweeter jam.
Makes: about 40 mini bars, or according to your preferred size
Prep time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup semolina
1 cup flour
½ cup sugar (see notes)
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup lightly roasted shelled pecans
1 Stick (115 grams) butter, cold, cut into large cubes
1-2 Tbs half and half or milk
2/3 cup homemade strawberry jam, pureed (see notes) or good quality store bought
1. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C). Line an 8×8” (20×20 cm) pan with baking paper.
2. Mix the semolina, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and pecans in a food processor bowl, fitted with the metal blade. Blend briefly, to form a crumbly mixture. Add 1-2 Tbs of half and half or milk, just enough to bind the mixture.
3. Transfer ¾ of the dough mixture into the lined pan, and press it with your palms, to form an even layer. Spread the jam over the dough and crumble the rest of dough on top.
4. Place the pan in the lower third of the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, until the top layer is golden. Holding the baking paper, transfer the bake onto a rack, to cool to room temperature.
5. Transfer to a large cutting board. Using a large heavy knife, cut bars any size you prefer.
Oh, WOW! I’ll have those!!! ;->
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Wouldn’t it be great to just grab some right from the screen? 🙂
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You took the words right out of my mouth! Now there’s room for a pile of those lovelies to fit in there!
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🙂
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Looks yummy
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Thank you! 🙂
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Oh. My. Gosh! 🍃🍓
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Thank you Gail. These tasty nibbles were gone too fast! 🙂
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This looks so tasty. Hope you have a great day/night!
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Thank you LaRena, I’m glad you liked the recipe. Have a great day! 🙂
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Mmm.
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Thank you Paul! 🙂
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They look so good Ronit. 👌
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Thank you Myra, they really were. 🙂
p.s. I think there’s something wrong on your site, as I tried to comment and it didn’t work. Also, the Like button seems to have disappeared! In any case, I loved you soup! 🙂
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Oh ok, thank you and thanks for letting me know. I’ll go and check.
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Awesome bites…. perfect for my tea😊
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Thank you Jyo! You’re so right, these are perfect with tea. 🙂
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These look simply perfect! Bet it’s hard to stop at just a few!
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Thank you. You’re so right, it’s not easy to stop at just one! 🙂
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Oooohhh YUM! These look divine!
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Thank you Annie, they were very tasty and vanished quickly! 🙂
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No nuts allowed at my children’s school, but these look like the perfect after-school treats!
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Thank you Annika, I’m glad you liked these tasty treats. It’s a shame that all nuts are banned, as it is well known by now that children who were not exposed to them at all, suffer more from nut allergies. It’s very wise of you to give it to your children after school. 🙂
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Love all the substitutions you made here Ronit to make those perfect tasty treats. I love too that they are small and dainty. If I made them, I’d freeze a whole load as I wouldn’t trust myself and being bite-sized, I’d just help myself to a couple straight from the freezer 🙂 Beautiful!
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Thank you Loretta, I’m glad you liked these tasty treats. Freezing is indeed the perfect solution, which I use often! 🙂
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Strawberry any thing is always good to me and bite-sized is another plus, oh and then there are the pecans 🙂 They sure look delicious…
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Thank you Judi, they were delicious indeed. The strawberry-pecan combination turned out so good! 🙂
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I make a green salad which has strawberries and candied pecans so I know the combination in your bars must be even better 🙂
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Sounds like a very tasty salad. I hardly buy candied pecans anymore, as they are so addictive! 🙂
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Perfect bite size bars. Looks yum.
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Thank you Deepti, these were indeed very tasty! 🙂
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I hear you on the low sugar jam spiking easily Ronit – great inspiration for me to use up some of my orange marmalade that’s been hanging around for too long!
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Thank you Laura, I’m glad you’ve find the post inspiring. I think these bars will work so well with your marmalade. I’m now waiting for citrus season to begin, to make some. :).
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Ronit, I need these…. all of them!
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lol Thank you Debbie, I can definitely identify with that request, as by now they are all gone… 🙂
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These look fantastic. When I get the chance I’ll have to attempt them. I stay away from small seeds like in strawberries (although I love them) but I wonder if the jam still has the seeds.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked these tasty nibbles. I’m afraid most strawberry jams will contain the seeds, but you can always use any other fruit jam. It will be just as tasty. 🙂
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Excellent. Thank you. 😀
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Oh Ronit! My previous offer stands.
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🙂
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Beautiful. And tiny. Although I’d probably have many. They don’t seem crazily sweet…
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Thank you Mimi, I’m glad you liked these tasty nibbles. You’re right, they’re not overly sweet, and more than one is definitely the preferred choice for me too! 🙂
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A quick and yummy snack! Perfect !!
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Thank you Nisha, I’m glad you liked these tasty treats. 🙂
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Nice buffet 😋…
On the topic of homemade strawberry jam with little sugar: I am pretty sure you can freeze it, provided you do not fill the jar to the top. Nothing I hate more than prepared, then wasted food!
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Thank you Joelle for your comment. I agree – freezing such jams in indeed another good way to preserve them. 🙂
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Adding pecan and semolina sounds really good. I would love the flavour!
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Thank you , I’m glad you liked the recipe. The semolina and pecans added such nice texture and flavor. Highly recommended! 🙂
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Such a good recipe with semolina. I use semolina in many dishes, it is very healthy.
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Thank you Rita, I’m glad you liked the recipe. I love semolina and use it both in sweet and savory dishes. 🙂
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