Gluten Free Jam & Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Don't you think it's about time for another dessert?! I have the perfect one to share with you. We've been devouring these the past couple of days as I perfected this recipe. They are super easy to make, super yummy, and can be altered so many different ways you'll never get bored of them. Enjoy! 

Gluten Free Jam & Oatmeal Cookie Bars

(Gluten Free, Can be Dairy Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Egg Free)
Adapted by jalene from a recipe by Bob's RedMill

Makes 9 bars (about 2 inch by 2 inch)
Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup butter (For Dairy Free use Earth Balance or Coconut Oil), melted
• 1 cup gluten free oat flour (I make my own from gf rolled oats in my Blendtec)
• 1 cup gluten free rolled oats
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 & 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp vanilla (divided)
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup jam (I used strawberry but the possibilities are endless!)

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Directions: 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper. 
2. Combine the melted butter, oat flour, rolled oats, sugar, xanthan gum, baking powder, 1 tsp of the vanilla, almond extract, and salt in a large bowl. Mix until well incorporated. 
3. Split the dough in half and spread 1/2 of it on the bottom of your prepared pan. 
4. Combine your jam and the remaining 1 tsp of vanilla together then spread it evenly into the pan. Top with the remaining 1/2 of the dough. (I found it helpful to roll out the top half to the size of 8x8 between 2 pieces of wax paper so it covered better. Otherwise, it's hard to spread.)
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes and then cool pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes before cutting. 

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Note from jalene: 

Pst...I decreased the sugar (from 1/2 to 1/3 cup) and the jam (from 2/3 to 1/2 cup). We're just not big sweet-toothers but you won't miss it! Add it back in if you need to. 

On one batch I was experimenting with I used some freezer jam and the results were magical- the jam caramelized and made them so delicious!