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Perfect Sweet Blackberry Crumble Bars with an Oat Streusel Topping

A close-up, delicious shot of a single serving of Sweet Blackberry Crumble Bars with a thick fruit layer and crumb topping.
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Make easy, sliceable dessert bars featuring a sweet blackberry filling layered between a buttery shortbread base and a crisp oat crumble topping.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen blackberries
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. Prepare the base and crumble: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt.
  3. Add the flour and rolled oats to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed or with a fork until large, moist crumbs form. This mixture will serve as both the base and the topping.
  4. Press two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Set the remaining one-third aside for the topping.
  5. Prepare the filling: In a separate bowl, gently toss the blackberries with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and cinnamon until the berries are coated.
  6. Spread the blackberry filling evenly over the crust layer.
  7. Sprinkle the reserved one-third crumb mixture evenly over the blackberry filling.
  8. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
  9. Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing. This cooling time is crucial for sliceable bars.
  10. Once cool, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out and cut them into squares.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor in the crumble, substitute 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour with almond flour.
  • If using frozen blackberries, do not thaw them before mixing with the sugar and cornstarch.
  • To achieve a crispier topping, chill the reserved crumble mixture for 15 minutes before sprinkling it over the filling.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/sweet-blackberry-crumble-bars/