Fruit Filled Oatmeal Squares By Master Chef Hotaru

Ingredients
1/2 cup salted butter, room temp
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups oats
1 cup jam/preserves of choice (homemade or store bought)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon*

*I have used all sorts of jam for this recipe. Raspberry, cherry, pear, and now apricot. Usually I only add the cinnamon when making this with the lighter jams like pear or apricot. =)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Prepare a 9×9 inch square pan with butter or cooking/baking spray
3. In a medium size bowl, mix your butter and sugar. (2-3 minutes)
4. Add the egg and your vanilla and remix.
5. In a separate, smaller bowl, mix your flour, baking soda, and optional cinnamon
6. Add to your butter mixture and mix. You can use a mixer, whisk or fork to mix these. ( I just used a fork.)
7. Stir in 1 3/4 cup of your oats, set the rest aside and remix.
8. Put about 2/3 of your dough mix on the bottom of the pan, flat like a pizza, and then spread your jam on top.
9. To the remaining dough, add the rest of your oatmeal oats and either spread or crumble on top of the jam. What I usually do is flatten the mixture either with a rolling pin or my hands and then gently place it on top of the jam.
10. Bake 25-30 minutes
11. Enjoy!

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