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Sourdough Blueberry Jam Bars Recipe

Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, tender, there truly aren’t enough adjectives to describe how delicious these Sourdough Blueberry Jam Bars are. Made with a homemade blueberry jam baked on top of a sourdough discard shortbread crust, these are a great way to use excess sourdough starter and packed with berry flavor.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Chill Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 Bars
Calories: 161kcal

Ingredients

Shortbread Dough

  • 226 grams unsalted butter softened
  • 150 grams powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 56 grams sourdough discard
  • 300 grams all-purpose flour
  • 22 grams cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Bluberry Filling

  • 226 grams fresh blueberries or frozen
  • 100 grams granulated sugar
  • 8 grams cornstarch
  • 14 grams lemon juice

Topping

  • Powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Prep: Cut two pieces of parchment paper, about 8 by 15 inches, to create a sling for an 8-inch baking pan. Place them in the pan so they run perpendicular to each other. Set aside.
  • Make the shortbread dough: Cream the butter with sugar, zest and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
    226 grams unsalted butter, 150 grams powdered sugar, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, zest from 1 lemon
  • Add the sourdough discard and mix until well combined. Fold in the dry ingredients until a cohesive dough is forms.
    56 grams sourdough discard, 300 grams all-purpose flour, 22 grams cornstarch, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Chill the dough: Press ¾ of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan, making sure to press it into the corners.
  • Wrap the remaining dough in a piece of plastic wrap. Refrigerate the pan and the remaining portion of dough (used for the topping) for at least 30 minutes.
  • Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  • Make the filling: While the dough chills, combine the filling ingredients in a small saucepan and stir. Cook over high heat until the blueberries begin to break down. Once the mixture boils, turn the heat down to medium and cook until the filling has thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir often to prevent the filling from burning.
    226 grams fresh blueberries, 100 grams granulated sugar, 8 grams cornstarch, 14 grams lemon juice
  • Assemble the bars: Spread the warm blueberry filling evenly over the shortbread dough, making sure to get the filling into the corners.
  • Break the remaining portion of shortbread dough over the filling, leaving a few spots where the blueberry filling still peaks through.
  • Bake: Bake the bars for 40 to 45 minutes or until the shortbread topping looks lightly browned.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely, dust with powdered sugar and slice it into a 6 by 4 grid, you should end up with 24 rectangles.
    Powdered sugar
  • Store any leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Both sourdough discard and active sourdough starter will work for this recipe. 
  • Feel free to substitute 1 cup of store-bought jam thinned out with 1 tablespoon of water or fruit juice for the homemade blueberry filling.  
  • Substitute the berry of your choice by weight. You may need to adjust the cooking time of your filling since some fruits, like strawberries, contain more water and take longer to break down than blueberries.
  • Lemon is a great addition to this recipe, but it is completely optional. 
  • Let the bars cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar and cutting. 

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg