Buttery Cherry Crumb Bars

Servings

12

Ready In:

PREP: 30 Minutes
BAKE: 20-25 Minutes

Good For:

Dessert

About this Recipe

The perfect balance of sweet, tart, and buttery goodness, these irresistible Buttery Cherry Crumb Bars feature a golden, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust and a juicy cherry filling made from fresh Bing cherries.

Each bite delivers rich flavor and just the right amount of crunch. Topped with a buttery crumb topping, these bars are eay to make and even easier to love.

Whether you’re serving them at a summer picnic, holiday gathering, or just as an afternoon treat, these cherry crumb bars are a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert that always impresses.

FOR THE CRUST AND CRUMBLE TOPPING:

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt

FOR THE CHERRY FILLING:

  • 4 cups Fresh Cherries, pitted and halved (about 1.5 lbs.)
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract (optional, but delicious!)

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. 

Step 3

Using a food processor, pulse the ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Be careful not to over-process.

Step 4

Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the crust.

Step 5

In a separate bowl, gently combine the pitted and halved cherries, granulated sugar cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract (if using).

Step 6

Pour the cherry filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping evenly over the cherry filling.

Step 7

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cherry filling is bubbly.

Step 8

Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into bars and serve.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS

CHILL THE BUTTER – Using very cold butter is key to a tender and crumbly crust and topping.

ADD NUT – Mix chopped almonds. orpecans into the crumble topping for added flavor and texture.

USE DIFFERENT FRUITS – Feel free to substitute other fruits like blueberries, raspberries, or peaches for the cherries. Adjust the sugar according to the sweetness of the fruit.

DUST WITH POWDERED SUGAR – For a prettier presentation, dust the bars with powdered sugar before serving.

Buttery_Cherry_Crumb_Bars_Recipe_Fairfax_Market_Marin_Grocery_Store_1

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