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These cheery, blackberry crumb bars are a summertime favorite and make a perfect afternoon snack or simple dessert.

Blackberry Crumb Bars

Blackberry Crumble Bars

I love crumbles. Maybe it’s the name, it’s so old-fashioned and makes me think of long summer walks along blackberry hedges.

I imagine filling pails with sweet-smelling berries and watching small children with berry-stained mouths and grubby hands.

Later, we’d deliver the blackberries to a grandmother who would magically transform them into pots of jam and pies on the windowsill.

The berries would find themselves in mini berry cheesecakes, or blackberry vanilla cupcakes, or this lemon yogurt cake. And there would always be crumb bars served with tea in the afternoon tea.

These black berry crumble bars are everything I love about berry season in a handheld dessert.

Blackberry Bars

I don’t think I can overstate how quick and easy it is to make these delicious fruit bars.

Making Blackberry Bars is as simple as stirring together the crumble topping and pressing half of it into a baking pan. Top that with sugared berries and then sprinkle with the remaining crust.

They are perfect for a quick handheld dessert that you can carry out into the yard to enjoy the long summer twilight while sitting on the porch swing.

These bars are great dessert to whip up for unexpected guests. Or make them as a snack for a kids’ event, game, or to celebrate after a recital.

You really don’t need an excuse, this is a delicious snack for any reason. You aren’t likely to be bringing any leftovers home.

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Berry Crumble Bars

Berry Bars Recipe

The berry bar ingredients are pantry staples. And if you’re lucky, you can pick your own blackberries from a nearby hedge. If that’s not available, your local grocery store or farmer’s market is sure to have some.

Raspberries or boysenberries would be excellent in this easy summertime recipe as well. Frozen berries can be used. However, they’ll need to be thawed and drained to keep your crumble from getting too soggy.

This is a great recipe for kids to try. They can pick the berries and then come home and make the Crumb Bars.

The kids always think it’s fun to push the topping into the pan with their fingers.

Easy peasy and you’ll have these bars coming out of the oven in no time. Serve with tea or coffee or a big glass of cold milk. Blackberry bars are perfect for picnics and late afternoon snacks.

Blackberry Bars

Easy Tip for Cutting in the Butter

You can grate the cold butter straight into the flour! Use butter straight from the refrigerator, don’t let it warm on the counter while you set up the grater.

It takes only 15-20 seconds to grate a cold stick of butter. Toss the fluffy grated butter into flour to lightly coat it and then all you need is a fork or your fingers to turn it into perfect crumbs in moments.

Blackberry Crumble Bars

Blackberry Bars Recipe

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Stir together the flour, 1 cup white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter, until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. (See note below for an easy tip!)
  2. Stir in the beaten egg with a fork. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the baking dish. Combine the blackberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar in a medium-size mixing bowl and stir to combine.
  3. Scatter the sugared berries over the crust in the pan. Sprinkle with the other half of the dough mixture.
  4. Bake at 375 F for 30-35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool completely.
4.81 from 26 votes

Blackberry Crumble Bars

Avatar photoMary Younkin
These cheery, blackberry bars are a summertime favorite and make a perfect afternoon snack or simple dessert.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
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Ingredients 

Crust and Topping Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 large egg

Blackberry Filling Ingredients

  • 4 cups blackberries
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup granulated white sugar

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Stir together the flour, 1 cup white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter, until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. (See note below for an easy tip!)
  • Stir in the beaten egg with a fork. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the baking dish. Combine the blackberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar in a medium-size mixing bowl and stir to combine.
  • Scatter the sugared berries over the crust in the pan. Sprinkle with the other half of the dough mixture.
  • Bake at 375 F for 30-35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool completely.

Notes

To “cut in the butter” means working large chunks of butter into dry ingredients (usually flour) in order to break the butter down into smaller pieces that are each fully coated in those dry ingredients. You can even grate the cold butter straight into the flour! Use butter straight from the refrigerator, don’t let it warm on the counter while you set up the grater. It takes only 15-20 seconds to grate a cold stick of butter. Toss the fluffy grated butter into flour to lightly coat it and then all you need is a fork or your fingers to turn it into perfect crumbs in moments.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bar | Calories: 196 kcal | Carbohydrates: 29 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 8 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 28 mg | Sodium: 129 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 16 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

{originally published 6/3/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/22/21}

Here are a few more blackberry recipes to try:

Blackberry Lime Cupcakes from a Cookie Named Desire

Blackberry Cheesecake Brownies from Oh, Sweet Basil

No Churn Vanilla Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream from Celebrating Sweets

Monster Cookie Bars - Classic Cookies in easy bar recipe form.

Monster Cookie Bars

Sugar Cookie Bars (1)

Sugar Cookie Bars

Raspberry Ice White Chocolate Ice Cream (Small)

Raspberry White Chocolate Ice Cream

Blackberry Crumble Bars

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Recipe Rating




69 Comments

  1. Jannine says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is delicious! Thank you! It’s not too sweet, uses a generous amount of blackberries and it’s easy throw together. Top it with French vanilla ice cream for absolute perfection! Make this!! 😃

    1. Mary says:

      I’m thrilled that you love it so much!

  2. Bridget says:

    5 stars
    These are delicious! A neighbor asked for some of them to take home.

    1. Mary says:

      I’m happy to hear the bars are a hit!

  3. Laura says:

    Can you freeze these bars?

    Thanks!

    1. Mary says:

      They should freeze nicely.

  4. Sheila says:

    For any of you that have used frozen berries for this recipe, do you thaw them first?

    1. Mary says:

      You do not need to thaw the berries first.

  5. Courtney Ann Wasson says:

    I want to try your recipe using the canned boysenbarries I purchased at Knotts Berry Farm, but I have a question! From reading your entire post, I know that I need to drain them- but do I still need to add the sugar, lemon Juice, and cornstarch? They have sugar in them already according to the ingredients list! What would be your recommendation? Thank you for your advise!

    1. Mary says:

      I honestly don’t know for sure, Courtney. Is this a jam? If so, you could just use the jam. If it’s a fruit in syrup, I’d probably drain the can and then use about half the sugar along with the cornstarch and lemon juice.

  6. Denise Carter says:

    5 stars
    So good, I’m making them for a third time in 2 weeks!!

    1. Mary says:

      That’s awesome, Denise!

  7. Michelle says:

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and drizzled with a simple lemon glaze. Delicious!

    1. Mary says:

      I’m so glad you like the recipe, Michelle.