Ingredients
Scale
For the crust and topping:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the cherry filling:
- 4 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line the baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal.
- Prepare the Crust and Topping:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the cold butter pieces to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in the beaten egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is moistened and crumbly.
- Press half of this mixture firmly into the prepared pan to form the crust.
- Prepare the Cherry Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and becomes bubbly, approximately 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract.
- Allow the filling to cool for a few minutes before spreading it evenly over the crust in the pan.
- Add the Topping:
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the cherry filling, ensuring it covers the surface evenly.
- Bake:
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Once done, remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Slice and Serve:
- Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan.
- Place on a cutting board and slice into squares or rectangles as desired.
Notes
Butter Consistency: Using cold butter is crucial for achieving a crumbly texture. If the butter softens too much, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
Cherry Options: Both fresh and frozen cherries work well. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them before cooking.
Preventing Sogginess: Allow the cherry filling to cool slightly before adding it to the crust to prevent the base from becoming soggy.
Flavor Boost: A dash of cinnamon or nutmeg can add a warm spice note to the crumb mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg