Contents
- 💛 Why Everyone Loves These Raspberry Crumble Bars
- 🇱🇹 Traditional Lithuanian Traybakes: A Sweet Daily Ritual
- 🧰 What You’ll Need
- 🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- 🔄 Additions & Variations
- 👩🍳 How to Make Raspberry Crumble Slice
- 🧁 Tips for Success
- 🧊 Storage Tips
- 🥄 Ingredients Summary
- 🍽️ More Lithuanian Dessert Ideas
A traditional Lithuanian dessert made simple! These Raspberry Crumble Slices combine a buttery shortbread-style base, sweet-tart raspberry jam, and a golden crumble topping. Easy to make, beginner-friendly, and perfect as a snack or dessert with coffee or tea. 🍓🇱🇹
Equipment
- 24x24 cm (10x10 in) square baking tin
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon or food processor
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 420 g (3½ cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 200 g (7 oz) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 large egg
- 400 g (1¼ cups) raspberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Line a 24x24 cm (10x10 in) baking tin with parchment paper, leaving the edges overhanging for easy lifting later.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Add cold, cubed butter and rub it into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. (Alternatively, pulse in a food processor.)
- Add the beaten egg and mix until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press about two-thirds of the dough into the prepared tin to create an even base layer.
- Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the base.
- Crumble the remaining dough on top of the jam layer.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until the top is lightly golden.
- Let the traybake cool completely in the tin. Once cooled, lift it out using the parchment overhang and cut into 16 bars.
Notes
Discover the cozy charm of a traditional Lithuanian treat with these Raspberry Crumble Slices—easy, nostalgic, and irresistibly delicious! With a buttery shortbread-style crust and a sweet-tart layer of raspberry jam, these jam crumble bars are the perfect companion to your morning coffee ☕, afternoon tea 🫖, or a quick midweek dessert.
Whether you're craving something sweet but simple, or you're looking for a budget-friendly bake using pantry staples, this recipe has got you covered!💛 Why Everyone Loves These Raspberry Crumble Bars
These jam crumble slices are a true Lithuanian classic, loved across generations for their:- ✅ Simple 7-ingredient recipe—all common pantry staples!
- ✅ No special equipment—a bowl, spoon, and your hands (or food processor) are all you need.
- ✅ No fresh fruit required—just a jar of raspberry jam will do!
- ✅ Budget-friendly—perfect for when the fridge is empty but your sweet tooth is calling.
- ✅ Great for kids—easy to pack as a snack for school or take on the go.
- ✅ Adaptable—change up the jam, add flavor twists, or enhance the topping for your own spin.
🇱🇹 Traditional Lithuanian Traybakes: A Sweet Daily Ritual
In Lithuania, desserts aren't just for special occasions—they're part of everyday life. While elaborate tortes are saved for birthdays and holidays, simple traybakes like these Raspberry Crumble Slices are a household staple. They often feature:- A buttery, crumbly base
- A sweet filling (jam, fruit, or curd cheese)
- A golden crumble topping
🧰 What You’ll Need
While this recipe is traditionally made by rubbing butter into flour by hand, a food processor makes it even easier. You’ll also need:- A large mixing bowl
- A 24x24 cm (10x10 in) square baking tin
- Baking parchment
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
Here’s what you need to make the perfect Raspberry Crumble Bars:- 420 g (3½ cups) all-purpose flour – also called plain flour. Cake flour works too.
- 1 tsp baking powder – don’t confuse this with baking soda!
- ½ tsp salt – sea salt flakes add a lovely touch.
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar – or caster sugar for a finer texture.
- 200 g (7 oz) butter – unsalted, cold from the fridge. If using salted butter, skip the extra salt.
- 1 large egg – for binding the dough.
- 400 g (1¼ cups) raspberry jam – store-bought or homemade. Feel free to substitute with plum, cherry, or rhubarb jam.
🔄 Additions & Variations
Want to mix things up? Try these fun tweaks:- 🍯 Swap half the white sugar for brown sugar for a deeper, caramelized flavor.
- 🍋 Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, or a dash of almond extract to the dough.
- 🌾 Stir in rolled oats, chopped nuts, or poppy seeds into the crumble topping for texture.
- 🍑 Experiment with other jams like apricot, blackcurrant, or fig.
👩🍳 How to Make Raspberry Crumble Slice
- Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F). Line a 24x24 cm baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Rub in butter: Add the cold, cubed butter. Rub it into the flour with your fingertips (or pulse in a food processor) until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add egg: Pour in the beaten egg and mix until crumbly dough forms.
- Form the base: Press about two-thirds of the mixture into the base of the tin. Make sure it’s evenly spread and reaches all corners.
- Spread the jam: Spoon the raspberry jam over the base and spread it evenly.
- Add crumble topping: Scatter the remaining dough mixture over the jam layer.
- Bake: Bake in the centre of the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
- Cool & slice: Let the traybake cool completely in the tin before slicing into bars.
🧁 Tips for Success
- Use parchment overhangs to lift the bake out easily and neatly.
- Don't over-press the base—just enough so it holds together, but stays tender.
- Cool completely before slicing to avoid messy edges.
- For a crispier top, bake a few extra minutes—but watch for browning.
🧊 Storage Tips
Once fully cooled, store Raspberry Crumble Bars in an airtight container. Separate layers with parchment if stacking.- Shelf life: Up to 5 days at room temperature.
- Freezing: You can freeze individual bars, well-wrapped, for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp.
🥄 Ingredients Summary
- 420 g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 200 g white sugar
- 200 g cold unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 400 g raspberry jam
🍽️ More Lithuanian Dessert Ideas
Craving more cozy Eastern European sweets? Try these next:- Šimtalapis – multilayered poppy seed pastry
- Tinginys (Lazy Cake) – a no-bake chocolate biscuit cake
- Varškės Pyragas – creamy Lithuanian curd cheesecake
Lovely recipe! For an elevated flavour profile, consider infusing the butter for the base with a touch of vanilla bean paste or lemon zest before incorporating it into the dough. This will add a subtle complexity that complements the raspberry jam beautifully. Enjoy!