Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

Step 1

Preheat the oven to Spray a square 8×8 baking dish with non-stick spray.

Step 2

In your food processor, or with a pastry cutter, combine the crust/topping ingredients until pea-sized pieces of butter remain.

Step 3

Reserve 1 ½ cups of the crumbs for the topping (chill in the refrigerator until needed), and press the remainder of the crumbs firmly against the bottom of the baking dish.  Bake crust for 20 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, in a bowl toss the rhubarb with the baking soda, sugar and flour until all the fruit is coated.  Stir in the jam, lemon juice and vanilla.

Step 5

Spread the rhubarb mixture over the hot crust.  Bake for 30 minutes.

Step 6

Sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the fruit and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes until topping is golden brown.

Step 7

Let cool on the counter for at least two hours to set before slicing into squares.