Fresh, seasonal produce is one of life’s simplest pleasures.
I can’t think of anything I’d rather eat all day long on a crisp fall day than ripe concord grapes straight off the vine. (In fact, this is exactly what I do once a year on my grape-picking pilgrimage.) Last year I made concord grape jam with my loot, so I’ve been able to savor concord grapes and the memory of picking them all year long.
Recently, I was in the mood for pie, but wanted something much quicker; jam bars came to mind and I thought it would be a great use for my homemade concord grape jam. (Store-bought jam will also work, but if you have homemade, why not use it, right?)
Making individual-portioned jam bars in little jars is so much fun too. Not only are they the perfect size, but they’re also super cute. They’re a lovely dessert to bring along on a picnic.
So, until strawberry season (which isn’t until mid-June where I live!), I will enjoy my grape jam bars.
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened but not fully melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup grape jam (store-bought or homemade)
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons cold water
- Preheat oven to 350F; arrange 6 half pint-sized jars on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Toast the almonds; put them in a small skillet over medium-low heat and cook until they’re fragrant and golden in places, about 3 minutes, occasionally shaking the pan. Cool slightly.
- While the nuts cool, make the filling. Combine all filling ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Once boiling, turn heat down slightly and cook until thickened, but still pourable, about 2 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool slightly.
- Pulse the toasted almonds and brown sugar together in a food processor until there are just a few larger pieces of almonds (it will look like sandy meal with a few larger pieces); then pulse in the flour, baking soda, and salt a couple times to combine. Add the butter and vanilla, and pulse a couple times until it forms a ball of dough, and then pulse in the oats a few times.
- Divide the dough in half (half is for the top and half is for the bottom). Divide the first half of dough into 6 portions and crumble each into the bottom of each jar, pressing down only very lightly. Spoon the filling into each jar on top of the bottom layer of dough. Divide the remaining half of dough into 6 portions and crumble each on top of the jam layer.
- Bake until they’re puffed and golden on top, about 25 minutes.
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
What a fun idea! I made a dozen this morning with strawberry jam. My 20yo son is very excited to try them- not only as breakfast or snack but also as dessert with a scoop of ice cream!
We have a lot of grapes, so I will be trying this in the fall : )
Faith – these look amazing! I remember last year when you posted about your grape picking experience and the amazing juice and jam you made. I was drooling over it – I am so jealous you still have some to use!
These look mighty tempting. While I love grapes, we’ve been blessed with early Strawberries here in the South for about two weeks already. Hang in there…June will be here before you know it. Be Blessed!!! –Steve
Desserts in jars are so cute! I just want to stare at them all day! The grape jam sounds delectable used like this.
This is such a cute idea – the topping looks so delicious!
These are soooooo cute Faith :) I’ve seen another jam jar recipe before but these are just soooo cute ~ now i just need to get some jam jars or get my man to consume 2 jars in a week LOL
Gorgeous photos, and such a great idea! I am really, really starving now :)
This is such a great idea! Mmmmm…..I so agree–fresh seasonal produce is one of life’s biggest pleasures!
This has inspired me to make pie in a jar!
These are so cute and so wonderfully homey, Faith. :-) Homemade jam sounds so good. :-)
Delicious looking jars of goodness
These are adorable and I love that they’re personal-sized…the oats and all the flavors together sound great!
I absolutely love how you presented this bars in the jars…so cute and creative :)
Like the oat and almonds in the layers.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead Faith!
What a fabulous idea for a bar! Yum!
Bar in a jar = brilliant. It’s kind of like a pie in a jar, too. I want!
I’m making these and adding PB!
This looks SO good! What a great idea! I love it!
I love that these are in jars…so fun! They look and sound delightful :)
Yum, love baking in jars. I was totally going to do this for my wedding last year, but it just seemed too daunting of a task to make a hundred of them a few days before!
Wow, so cool! You almost never see grape jam used in baking and I really love what you did here.
the whole creation-in-a-jar fad is so stinkin’ adorable, and this is a welcome addition to the craze! so cute, faith!
I love making things in my little Ball jars! Makes things so simple for a picnic. And using jam in place of fruit is a great idea, Faith. Of course, the best part is the topping! :)
A great idea! Those look delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
I want to still the crumbs right off the top! Looks so darn good! I agree- crisps/crumbles are my favorite desserts.
These are adorable. Plus, they look very tasty, too! What a cute idea.