These easy to make bars have a delicious, chewy centre and crisp outside. They used to be my favourite after school treat and I regularly made them for my children too.

Strawberry & Chocolate Bars

INGREDIENTS

• 225g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100g caster sugar
• 85g soft light brown sugar
• 225g unsalted chilled butter, cubed
• 150g rolled oats
• 225g good quality strawberry jam
• 100g plain chocolate chips
• 35g flaked almonds

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan.
2. Line a 30 x 20cm rectangular baking tin with baking parchment.
3. In a large bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder and stir in the sugar.
4. Add the butter and, with your fingertips, rub the cubed butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
5. Stir in the oats.
6. Press three quarters of the mixture into the base of the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven, spread over the jam and sprinkle over the chocolate chips.
8. Mix the flaked almonds with the remaining cake mixture and sprinkle over the chocolate chips. Press the mixture down gently.
9. Bake for another 25 minutes until golden brown.
10. Leave to cool in the tin before removing and cutting into slices.