Ingredients
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1 (18 ounce) box yellow cake mix
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1/2 cup brown sugar (use 3/4 cup for a sweeter crust and topping)
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1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
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1/4 cup melted butter, plus
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2 tablespoons melted butter (can use vegetable oil)
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2 teaspoons lemon juice
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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1 large egg, slightly beaten
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2 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (use only quick-cooking)
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2 cups strawberry preserves (can use a little more, or use your favorite preserves) or 2 cups raspberry preserves (can use a little more, or use your favorite preserves)
Instructions
- Set oven to 375 degrees (oven rack to second-bottom position).
- Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, oatmeal, cinnamon and brown sugar; mix with a spatula or a large wooden spoon.
- In a small cup whisk egg with lemon juice and vanilla until combined; add to the crumb mixture along with 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons melted butter.
- Using a large wooden spoon toss to combine then use your fingers to finish the mixing.
- Mix until the mixture clumps together.
- Sprinkle a litle more than half of the crumb mixture into the pan then spread out evenly pressing firmly to cover bottom.
- Spoon the jam carefully over the crust in the pan and spread evenly.
- Cover with remaining crumb mixture over top of the jam then gently pat the mixture down slightly.
- Bake for 20 minutes (the top should be very light brown).
- Cool completely, or semi-freeze before cutting into bars (this will make cutting the bars easier).