Strawberry Shortbread Bar Cookies

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar (confecioner's)
• 1 1/2 cups salted butter, softened (3 sticks, 12 ounces, 3/4 pound)
• 1 (21 ounce) can strawberry pie filling (i used comstock)

Recipe

• 1 preheat over 350 degrees f, rack in middle position.
• 2 mix flour and sugar in medium-sized bowl.
• 3 cut in butter with a pastry cutter or use 2 knives. mixture will look like bread crumbs or course corn meal.
• 4 spread half of this mixture (about 3 cups) into a greased 9x13 pan.
• 5 bake 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn brown.
• 6 remove the pan from oven to a wire rack, but do not turn off oven.
• 7 spread pie filling over top of crust you just baked.
• 8 sprinkle the crust with the other half of crust mixture you saves. try to make as even as possible. it will spread a bit as it bakes.
• 9 gently press the top crust down with the flat blade of a metal spatula.
• 10 bake 350 for another 30-35 minutes, or until top is lightly golden brown.
• 11 remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.
• 12 when bars are completely cool cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 13 chilling makes them easier to cut.