Perfect Blackberry Crumble Bars (Printable Version)

Buttery bars with sweet blackberries and golden crumble topping

# What You Need:

→ For the Crust & Crumble

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 cubed
07 - 1 large egg

→ For the Blackberry Filling

08 - 3 cups fresh blackberries or frozen, thawed and drained
09 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
10 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat 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 until well combined.
03 - Add cold, cubed butter and blend with a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - Add the egg and mix until dough starts to come together. The mixture will remain crumbly.
05 - Press about two-thirds of the dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust layer.
06 - In another bowl, gently toss blackberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest until evenly coated.
07 - Spread the blackberry mixture evenly over the pressed crust layer.
08 - Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the blackberry filling layer.
09 - Bake for 38-42 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
10 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out and slicing into 16 bars.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The same dough doubles as both crust and crumble topping, saving you from dirtying extra bowls and losing precious eating time
  • These bars somehow taste better on day two, making them perfect for making ahead when you're hosting or meal prepping treats
02 -
  • Do not skip the cooling step, no matter how incredible your kitchen smells, or you will end up with beautiful but messy berry crumble instead of bars
  • If using frozen berries, thaw them completely and drain off excess liquid before tossing with the other filling ingredients
03 -
  • Keep your butter and egg cold and work quickly when making the dough to ensure the flakiest texture
  • If your berries are especially sweet, reduce the sugar in the filling to 1/4 cup to let that natural sweetness shine

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