Growing up, jelly filled oatmeal bars was a quick & easy dessert that my family made a lot. As I got older, I would sometimes take a pan to work, much to the delight of my coworkers. When I had children, I started making it for them & they loved it as much as I did as a child. When the county fair had a contest making a dessert using your homemade jam or jelly as an ingredient, I decided to enter. It’s such a simple dessert that I didn’t think I had a chance of winning; I just entered for the fun of it. I was floored when my name was called as the second place winner! My prize was $200 and a huge red ribbon. That day I changed the name from jelly filled oatmeal bars to $200 bars!

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter

1-2 cups jam or jelly

Stir flour, oats, and sugar together. Cut in butter until crumbly.

Press 2/3 of oat mixture into 9×13 pan. Spread with jelly. (The amount is really up to you depending on how jelly-y you want it. I use 1 1/2-2 cups.) Sprinkle remaining oat mixture evenly. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Tip: Stirring the jelly before spreading on oat mixture makes it much easier to spread.