Mabrousheh
Last week, I was over at my family’s house in New Jersey visiting as I often do this time of year. My mom who is an excellent cook and even better baker introduced me to this delicious Arabic dessert while I was over known as mabrousheh. It gets its name from the dough grated on top to resemble a crumb effect and texture. Now, if you know me, you know that I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but I still enjoy a sweet bite here and there. Let me tell you something; these jam-centered crumb bars were addictive. They were so light and had just the right amount of sweetness.
I immediately told my mother that she had to teach me how to make these. One, so I can continue to make them for my friends and family and two, so I can share the recipe with all of you. I urge you to make these! They are absolutely delicious and versatile, so you can use any fruit jam you prefer in the center. My top picks would be strawberry and apricot! You can also shape it as a pie or crumb bars as seen here. These go perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy!
As always, if you make any of my recipes please tag me on my Instagram page or leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
Mabrousheh
Ingredients
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tbsp Orange zest lemon zest can also be used but orange is preferred
- 1 tsp Vanilla Flavor
- 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- 13 oz. Fruit jam of choice strawberry and apricot are recommended but any flavor will work. It is all preference.
- Powdered Sugar for Sprinkling on top
Instructions
- First, beat together the sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, and orange zest until it becomes pale yellow in color.
- Then, add the flour and baking powder and mix together by hand, rubber spatula, or with a paddle attachment.
- Reserve half the dough to be grated for the topping of the bar and the other half as the base.
- Place the reserved dough for the topping in a ziplock and into the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Spread out the remaining dough into a thin layer onto a lightly greased 9 by 13 baking pan.
- Spread all the jam evenly on top of that layer leaving 1 inch around all the edges.
- Grate the dough that was placed in the freezer on top of the jam layer covering the jam. It gives it a streusel look/effect.
- Bake in the oven for 25 minutes on the bottom rack then another 10 min on the tap rack.
- Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into 16 even bars!
First recipe I ever tried from fufu’s kitchen and since then I am hooked!! This recipe was super easy to make and more importantly it was DELICIOUS. My husband loved it and actually frequently requests I make it. AND my whole house smelt amazing while I was baking it. Please post more recipes like this!!
I am so happy you enjoyed my Mama’s Mabrousheh recipe. It is a crowd favorite!
Already made this twice my family loved it 😁👍 tastes amazing
Excellent recipe when I don’t want to make maamoul. I froze the dough longer because it kept thawing and getting harder to grate. I love it so much i doubled the recipe and made it for family mashallah tabarakarahman everyone loved it thanks for sharing! Eid Mubarak!
Hi Rihab,
Thanks so much. I am so happy you liked it!
Is it a print error … is it 1 tablespoon or 1 teaspoon baking powder
You have here 1 Tablespoon which sounds too much
These bars are delicious! I’ve made them with a few different types of jam, but my favorite was fig jam. So so good!
I made this Recipe with strawberry jam it was super delicious and my kids loved it 💓 thank you for the recipe 🙂
My pleasure Rana, thank you!
This recipe was so good! I replaced the flour with almond flour and used my homemade strawberry and it turned out amazing! Thank you Heifa!!!
Fantastic to know that it worked just as good with Almond flour! A great gluten-free alternative. Thanks for sharing 🙂
what was the ratio you used, one cup of flour for one cup of almond flour?
Hi, I did not test this with almond flour!
I just tried it because I missed it when my grandma used to make it. She was Russian. She used to call it pierog. She used to make it with all kinds of jams. I didn’t have a big enough pan to make it in. Didn’t have a zester and didn’t have a grater. And didn’t spread the jam enough. But everyone loved if!
I am so happy it brought back memories and was enjoyed!
Made this with apricot jam and it was so so delicious and easy!!
Such an amazing recipe!!! Thank you fufu for making your recipes so easy to follow and even more delicious! I used a strawberry preserve for the filling and it was so scrumptious, will definitely make again.
That sounds delicious!
Easy to follow, simple and tasty recipe that brings back so many childhood memories. My mom even asked for it as she lost hers. Tried it twice, once with apricot jam and once with strawberry and fig jam. Was a hit with the family, thanks 😊
That makes me so happy to hear!
Did u et my query.
How much baking powder please
Hi Lillian,
It is as the recipe reads, 1 tablespoon!
This was super easy, even my 2 year old helped. We used strawberry preserves and its good but I’d like to try it again with the apricot or even peach. A very tender cookie. Its was great with my afternoon latte.
So happy to hear that!
Pretty good and easy to make reminds me of the old days ❤️❤️
My mom makes this and I absolutely love it!! I found this recipe on Heifa’s Instagram page and I decided last minute to make it. It took no time at all and I had all the ingredients on hand. From start to finish it took one hour! I used strawberry spread and it was delicious!! I’m looking forward to trying it again with the apricot flavor! I’ve tried so many of Heifa’s recipes and they do not disappoint!
Hi Lina!
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed my mabrousheh recipe. It is one of my favorite desserts! Thanks for the sweet comment 🙂
These bars are sooo delicious, tried so many different recipes of mabrusha and this was our favorite, the whole family loved it! My husband and kids! all gone in a day, already made it like three times it’s the best, I make it with strawberry jam 😋
I have the same exact recipe that I learned from my mother, she called it different name (Sterlitz). However you call them, they are delicious and perfect with coffee. I love these cookies, especially with fig or apricot preserve. Thank you for sharing.
I made this for the second time the other day. I hosted a Palestinian family and they raved about it and even asked about the recipe. I’m so pleased with how they turn out. Delicious and easy!
So delicious. My favorite is with strawberry but i used orange marmalade for the jam and it was so good. I made it for so many occasions and people always ask me for the recipe and I send them the link to your page. JazakAllah khier for the delicious recipe.
I am so happy that everyone loves it!
Hi this looks great! Could you let me know how to store a big batch of these crumb bars, and for how long it can be stored? Thanks!
Hi! Thanks! I leave it room temp. in an airtight container for up to a week. Then, I refrigerate extras and warm them as needed.
so delicious I made it with apricot, strawberry, and orange marmalade jam. all were so good. i have made it so many times and even made it and gave to the host at gatherings and people always asks me for the recipe
Love all those jam flavors! Glad you enjoy it!
This was so easy to make! What a great, fast dessert to make. It is delicious and I might just eat the whole pan to myself!
I cannot even count how many times I have made this for my family and friends. It presents beautifully when made and given as a gift and it looks amazing on any dessert table. It is delicious and it’s delicate crumb makes it a melt in your mouth treat. Thanks Fufu!
So easy and flavorful!
I made it for a gathering and one of my friends said that this one tastes better than his mom’s