Preheat oven to 350 Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar together until combined.
1 cup salted butter, ½ cup powdered sugar
Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT jam, and stir in just until combined.
2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, ¼ teaspoon salt
Press half of the dough into the prepared pan.
Prick the dough with a fork.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Drop dollops of jam over hot crust, and carefully spread to cover entire crust.
½ cup jam
Top jam with remaining dough.
Continue baking for 20-30 minutes.
Let bars cool in pan for at least 3 hours before cutting and serving.
Video
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="kyLjBksH" upload-date="2022-10-28T00:00:00+00:00" name="Jam Bars" description="Best jam bars! This jam bar recipe has a layer of jam sandwiched between a sweet shortbread crust and topping. Easy and delicious recipe that uses pantry staple ingredients!" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
Notes
Butter: I use salted butter. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt to 3/4 teaspoon.
Jam: I recommend using a thicker jam rather than a thinner jelly in these bars. Jelly will melt as the bars bake.