Cherry Crumble Bars (Print)
Buttery, crumbly bars with sweet-tart cherry filling. A delightful dessert or snack that's easy to make.
# Ingredient list:
→ Crumble Base
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
07 - 1 large egg
→ Cherry Filling
08 - 3 cups pitted fresh or frozen cherries, halved
09 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
10 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter and egg. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
03 - Press two-thirds of the crumble mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the base.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Toss until cherries are evenly coated.
05 - Spread the cherry filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the cherry layer.
06 - Bake for 38–42 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
07 - Cool completely in the pan before lifting out and cutting into bars.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between tart cherries and sweet buttery crumble is addictive
- They travel well and actually taste better the next day
02 -
- Hot filling will fall apart when cut, patience during cooling is non negotiable here
- The crumble should look too dry before baking, it bakes into something tender and cohesive
03 -
- Frozen cherries need an extra 2 to 3 minutes of baking time
- Chill the crumble mixture for 15 minutes if your kitchen is warm, this prevents the butter from melting too fast