Berry Squares

 

 

 

For base & topping:

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp finely grated orange zest

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup melted butter

For filling:

3 cups Saskatoon berries

1/3 cup sugar

2 Tbsp orange juice

1 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line a 9" square metal baking pan with a 12" length of foil or parchment paper so that you can lift bar out of pan to cut.

3. Butter foil.

4. Blend together oats, flour, brown sugar, zest, baking soda, and salt with fingertips until well combined. Mix butter in well.

5. Reserve 3/4 cup of mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture into baking pan. Press in firmly to form an even layer.

6. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

7. Make filling while base is baking. Stir together berries, sugar, juice and cornstarch in a small saucepan then bring to boil over medium heat.

8. Cook, stirring constantly until thick and clear, about 5 minutes and remove from heat.

9. Spoon filling onto oat base, leaving a 1/2" border around edge.

10. Crumble reserved oat mixture on top.

11. Bake in middle of oven until golden and bubbly,  30 to 35 minutes.

12. Cool completely in pan on a rack.

13. Holding 2 ends of foil or parchment, lift from pan and put on cutting board. Cut into 1 1/2" squares.