Sweet Cherry Crumble Bars
These sweet cherry crumble bars feature a buttery crust, juicy cherry filling, and crumbly topping, making them perfect for any occasion. They’re easy to prepare and adaptable year-round with fresh or frozen cherries.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 4 cups (600g) fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Take about two-thirds of the mixture and press it evenly into the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until slightly golden. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract and let it cool slightly.
- Spread the cherry filling evenly over the pre-baked crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture on top, ensuring it covers the cherries evenly.
- Return the dish to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbling.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper. Slice into squares or rectangles and serve.
Notes
Keep the butter cold for the best texture. Let the bars cool completely before slicing to ensure they hold their shape. You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking mix for a gluten-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: cherry bars, crumble bars, easy dessert, cherry dessert, summer dessert