Cherry Crumb Bars – The Almond Eater

June 13, 2023

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These Cherry Crumb Bars could be the easiest way to make use of recent cherries! Made with a buttery crust and crumb topping, then crammed with a candy cherry center, these bars are straightforward to make and so scrumptious!

a stack of 3 dessert bars filled with cherries

Good day recent cherry season, and hey to those cherry crumb bars!

Actually, crumb bars are one in every of my favourite desserts, and although I really like mango bars and this candy potato variation, these cherry ones are probably the most much like basic crumb bars.

If I had to make use of one phrase to explain these bars, it will be “addicting”. Or, maybe fruity. Both approach, you are going to wish to make them, particularly if you happen to’re a fan of cherries.

Recipe options

Scrumptious bars that style like cherry pie!
Can simply be made vegan and gluten free.
They’re extremely versatile: if it is not cherry season, use a distinct form of fruit, like blueberries or strawberries.
A lot simpler to deliver to a celebration or cookout than precise pie.

Elements

Flour – I used all function flour, however if you wish to make these gluten free, merely use gluten free 1:1 baking flour. I do not suggest utilizing some other gluten free flour, for the reason that solely flour I examined these with is all function.

Sugar – Cane sugar is greatest, however if you’d like these bars to be much less candy tasting, use coconut sugar as an alternative.

Butter – Unsalted butter is most well-liked; if you happen to’re utilizing salted butter, omit the ¼ teaspoon of salt from the dry elements.

Egg – The egg goes bind the dry elements collectively; if you’d like these to be egg-free, strive utilizing a flax egg. To take action, stir 1 tablespoon of floor flaxseed and a couple of.5 tablespoons of water collectively, then let the combination sit for 5-10 minutes.

Milk – Any type. The milk goes to make sure the crumb combination is not too dry or crumb-y.

Cherries – Contemporary cherries are greatest and make sure the center filling is not too moist. Nevertheless, you can use frozen cherries (see “FAQ” part under).

Cornstarch – Cornstarch goes to assist take up among the moisture from the filling. substitution is all function flour.

Instructions

Step 1: Make the crust. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a big mixing bowl. Then, grate the butter instantly into the bowl and use your fingers to combine collectively till the butter resembles small pebbles. Stir within the egg and milk till the combination simply holds collectively whenever you pinch it.

Step 2: Make the cherry pie filling. Place the pitted cherries in a medium bowl, then use a potato masher to mash the cherries and place them right into a nice mesh strainer to empty any extra liquid. Place them again within the bowl, then stir within the sugar and cornstarch.

fresh cherries in a glass bowl mashed with a potato masher

Step 3: Type into bars. Press ⅔ of the dry combination into the underside of a sq. baking dish together with your fingers. Spoon the cherries on prime, then sprinkle the remaining crumb combination overtop.

Step 4: Bake. Place the baking pan within the oven and bake the bars at 375° for 32-36 minutes, or till the sides and prime are barely golden brown.

2 images: bars in a baking dish topped with fresh mashed cherries on the left and topped with a crumb topping on the right

Suggestions and FAQs

The primary time I made these cherry crumble bars, I did not embody milk within the crumb crust; nonetheless, the milk actually helps to carry every part collectively, so I do suggest utilizing it. Plus, in any other case, the bars shall be very crumb-y whenever you slice them.
The cherry combination goes to appear clumpy at first, and that is okay. The cherries will cook dinner down within the oven and when the bars are carried out, the filling will resemble cherry jam.
Bear in mind to line your baking dish with parchment paper with an overhang for straightforward removing.
Look forward to the bars to chill utterly earlier than slicing them to keep away from them falling aside.

Can I take advantage of frozen cherries as an alternative?

Sure! Should you’re not within the temper to pit recent cherries, I get it. Or, maybe it is not cherry season. Both approach, you need to use frozen cherries. To take action, thaw the cherries utterly, then mash then and drain as a lot liquid from them as doable earlier than including them to a bowl and including sugar and cornstarch.

You do not need the cherry combination to be too moist, so draining the liquid is vital.

Storage

Fridge: Retailer bars in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as one week.

Freezer: Look forward to the bars to chill utterly, then switch them to a freezer-safe container, putting layers of parchment or wax paper in between to stop the bars from sticking to at least one one other.

a cherry bar with a bite taken out of it

Extra summer season desserts

Should you made this recipe, make sure you go away a remark and star ranking under. Thanks!