My good friend C. gave me a very special gift last week – “The English Patient” DVD. It’s one of my all time favorite movies and Ralph Fiennes would be my #1 name if I had a laminated list like Ross’. :)
Back in 1996, I read the book before watching the movie and loved it too. Book, movie and actor – 3 fantastic things combined. Like the flavors in these bars.
The book would be the cookie base and the movie, the jam layer; getting face to face with Ralph Fiennes would be an amazing topping. Too bad that won’t happen – I’ll have to go with coconut instead. :)
I have made this recipe twice already – once in an 18x28cm pan, which resulted in bars with thinner layers (especially the cookie base). And the ones you see on the photos were made in a 20cm square pan - I just baked it for a tad longer to make sure it was cooked through.
Jam slice
from Modern Classics Book 2
Base:
125g (4oz) butter, softened
1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar
1 cup (135g) all purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg yolk
¾ cup raspberry jelly – I used strawberry
Topping:
½ cup (113g) caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup (90g) desiccated coconut
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF; line a 20x30cm (8x12in) slice pan* with non-stick baking paper.
Process the butter, sugar, flour and baking powder in a food processor until combined - I used my Kitchen Aid with the paddle attachment.
Add the egg yolk and continue to process until the mixture forms a soft dough. Press into the prepared pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the base is golden brown. Allow to cool then spread with the jam.
To make the topping, combine the sugar, egg and coconut. Sprinkle over the jam. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Cool in the pan. Cut into slices.
* I used regular pans, both times – no removable bottom. I just left a bit of paper hanging out of the pan to work as “handles” – this way, it was easier to remove the cookie from the pan and slice it into bars.
Makes 24 slices – I got 16 larger slices from the 18x28cm pan and 9 large slices from the 20cm square pan.
33 comments:
Hmm, Love these beautiful sweet slices Pat. They look a bit like Hello Dolly bars as well:)
And your hot potatoes sound great on a cold afternoon!
You're making me choose between Ralph Fiennes and coconut?! Hahaha. Hand me the shredded stuff, lol :) The topping looks good and crunchy, like a mini-macaroon on top! :)
I like Ralph Fiennes, too, but lately he's been in a lot of dark roles. Did you see "In Bruges"? Eek.
I've never seen The English Patient, I've never made this type of cookie but Patricia, you're making me wish I had the DVD and a pan of these cookies right now! And that Friends episode was one of my favorites! :)
These bars look like something I would love!! And I'm planning on canning lots of jam this year, so this would be a great way to use it!
It's up there as one of my faves too. I absolutely bawled the first time I saw it and maybe the second time too. Great looking jam slices and I love the addition of coconut.
Simple and delicious! These bars look SO good!
Mmmm... I hate to say it, but I'll take the sweets! Love, love, love that topping!
That is one of my all time favorite movies!!!! :) Those bars looks absolutely delicious!!!
I really love how fluffy the coconut looks - I could take a bite of one right now!
oh my, my Patricia that looks simply back porch, summer scrumptious. It's finally strawberry season, so there certainly will not be a shortage of jam around here...
You have been cooking up a storm Patricia! It's been too hot here to bake or cook. But these bars might bring me to kitchen for some much needed baking! They look delicious.
Who doesn't love a good jam slice. It's a staple whenever I host a bridal or baby shower. Yours looks buttery and tasty.
So lovely...I would love to have one with my morning coffee!
We're not big jam eaters but gets lots of jam as gifts. This will be a great way to use some of the different varieties.
Patricia, perfect timing! I have some strawberry jam that I could use for this!
I love that movie too! But you can have Ralph ;-)
These slices look so delicious, I can imagine the aroma of the baked coconut...yummmm
xnora
I've longed dreamed of finding a way to place my favorite actors atop my favorite pastries :) So I totally understand where you are coming from :) Sigh...we can dream can't we? And while we do these delicious jam slices will keep us satisfied!
Yum, coconut and jam sound delicious! I love that movie too!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog
oooh ... this looks delicious. It looks very much similar to the Coconut Squares I made. :)
Patricia - I LOVE the English Patient - it is one of my ALL time favorite movies. Isn't it sublime? The scene when he arrives to carry her back out of the cave - just breaks my heart. Such a wonderful movie.
And these bars - oh my - they look just as sublime. I think I need to make these bars, break out my copy of this movie and have myself a day!
I love The English Patient, and I bet Ralph Fiennes would love to have some tea with your jam slices!
My Mum used to make something a lot like this when I was growing up. It was delicious.
I wonder what Ralph Fiennes would think, being compared to a jam slice.. hehe..
These look so delicious. I am a sucker for any kind of raspberry bar but with coconut, too, I am in heaven :)
isn't Ralph Fiennes the actor caught on the plane with a flight stewardess??anyways this jam slice looks fantastic, i love coconut so im sure i will love this
Stella, thank you, darling!
Mark, you can go for Juliette Binoche. :)
Mari, I have not but I have to say I especially like him in dark roles - remember "Schindler's List"?
LyB, that episode is really, really funny.
Deb, I'm sure your special jams will be amazing here.
Syrie, I cried like a crazy in the movie theater. :)
GirlCanBake, thank you!
Ann, you can take the sweets, darling, no problem! :)
Ginny, thank you, darling!
Cookworm, they were gone in no time. :)
Dayna, I can picture that, sweetie!
Gigi, it's winter here, so you can imagine how much my oven will be on these days... :)
Pea, thank you!
Cathy, I'll put the cattle on. :)
Lydia, those jams sound like amazing gifts, my friend.
Pam, I saw your jam and I'm drooling! :)
Nora, really? Who would be your #1 name? I'm curious. :)
xoxo
Joey, you see? It's totally possible. :)
Shari, thank you!
Cooking Ninja, your bars look delish!
Ann, you are sooo right - I cried like a baby in the movie theater, and I already knew the ending, due to reading the book. :)
Sher, and I would love to have him over for tea! :)
KJ, I bet they were!
Y, I hope he likes it. :)
Elly, I used strawberry jam in these, but I want to make them again with raspberry!
this kind of thing is just my cup of tea--yum!
These look delicious! A nice treat to have with coffee...mmm!
my high school english teacher made us read that book, the english patient!
those look perfect for an afternoon tea!
made these and they were delicious! thanks for the recipe :)
Thank you, girls!
Anonymous, thank YOU for letting me know how it turned out!
The New Zealand version of this is called Louise Cake, one of the most common day treats in NZ. The topping is meringue with coconut- delicious. http://recipefinder.msn.co.nz/recipes/taste/765872/louise-cake
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