Cherry Crumb Bars
A delightful dessert bringing together the sweet and tart flavors of fresh cherries with a buttery crumb topping.
Ingredients
Cherry Filling
- 2 cups pitted cherries, sliced in half Fresh and firm cherries are preferred.
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Use 3 tablespoons for sour cherries.
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice Freshly squeezed for best flavor.
Crust and Topping
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted Must be melted to mix in nicely.
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar Adds slight caramel flavor to the topping.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 325F (170C).
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang.
Cherry Filling
- In a medium bowl, toss the halved cherries with 1 tablespoon of sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Set aside.
Crust
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 2/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
- Fold in the melted butter until achieving a crumbly texture.
- Press more than half of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake until just set and lightly golden.
Assembling
- Add brown sugar to remaining crumb mixture and stir to combine.
- Spread the cherry filling over the crust and crumble the remaining mixture on top.
- Return pan to the oven and bake until the top is golden yellow.
Cooling
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan for several hours before slicing.
Notes
Cool completely for cleaner slices. Store leftovers in an airtight container. Can be served warm or at room temperature.