Cherry Crumb Bars
A delicious interplay of sweet cherry filling nestled between buttery crumb layers, perfect for any dessert occasion.
Ingredients
For the Crust and Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cherry Filling
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved (or 1 jar cherry preserves)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar Adjust based on the sweetness of cherries
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined. Pour in the melted butter and vanilla extract, and mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Reserve about 1 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x9-inch baking pan.
- In another bowl, mix together the pitted cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir gently until the cherries are coated.
- Pour the cherry filling over the crust, spreading it evenly, then sprinkle the reserved crumb over the top.
Baking
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice into bars and serve.
Notes
Use fresh cherries for the best flavor. Adjust sugar based on cherry sweetness. Allow to cool completely for clean cuts. Double batches freeze well.