These cheery, blackberry crumb bars are a summertime favorite and make a perfect afternoon snack or simple dessert. 
I need some tips from some experienced mothers. How do you get your babies to take their medicine? Yesterday, my baby was diagnosed with his first ear infections, one in each ear :'(. In the past, giving him medicine hasn’t been a problem and he would drink it right down. But, he is determined this thick, sticky white antibiotic is the last thing he is going to swallow. I’ve tried rationalizing and talking it through with him, telling him it will make him feel better. Apparently, feverish five-month olds are not the most rational creatures on the planet.
The nurse I talked to at the Dr’s office recommended squirting it into the side of his cheek and then massaging his throat to make him swallow. Sounds easy enough in theory, but that doesn’t account for his flailing arms and wriggly little body. It has become a two person operation to give it to him. Just 17 more doses to go.
Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for all the sugar I can find in the house, since caring for a sick baby equals a sleep deprived mom and I need something to keep me going. Unfortunately, these blackberry crumb bars have long been gone, but a mother can dream.
This recipe was updated July 2018 based on reader feedback. I adjusted the crumb mixture to make it more tender and flavorful. These cheery, blackberry crumb bars are a summertime favorite and make a perfect afternoon snack or simple dessert. 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 with a pastry blender until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Stir in the beaten egg with a fork. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the baking dish. Cut the blackberries in half, toss them with the lemon juice, cornstarch and sugar. Sprinkle them 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.
Blackberry Crumb Bars
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 bars
Serving Size: 1 bar
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 196 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 28mg Sodium: 129mg Carbohydrates: 29g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 16g Protein: 2g
Some other 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
Christine Kaeb says
Our oldest daughter had to be on phenobarbitol (an anti-seizure med) for about three years when she was little. My husband would cradle her on his lap, tucking one of her arms down between their bodies and holding the other with his arm that was clamped around her. Then he would use a syringe to squirt a small amount of the medicine inside her cheek at the back of her mouth and immediately, before she had a chance to spit it out, blow in her face, which made her gasp and swallow (like a baby catches his breath when a stiff breeze hits him in the face). Then he’d repeat the process a couple more times until the full dose was gone. Not fun for either of them, but it worked.
Mallory says
Christine, It’s so hard to watch them struggle even when it’s for their own good. Things a first time mother has to learn and I’m sure there will be many more things that he doesn’t like in life that will be for his own good. Thanks for the tips.
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
Thanks for sharing my Blackberry Ice Cream! Your bars look delicious! I love a crumb topping. 🙂
Mindy says
Hi Mallory! My first had a bunch of ear infections in her first year. I learned to put it into the nipple of a bottle and let her drink it from there. If they don’t like it, you can add a little juice to make it sweeter- they can have juice by 5 mos. 🙂 I also learned from that experience to start putting 2 drops of colloidal silver into her ears when they were bothering her. I would do this 2-3 times a day, (no more) usually for 1-2 days and give her a couple doses of ibuprofen and it was gone. Much better than having to do 10 days of 3x/day antibiotics! (Not to mention healthier!) The silver has reduced my kids’ dr visits a ton since I use a couple drops of silver in their eyes also for any eye infections! Eyes take quite a few more doses- every 3 hours round the clock for several days if it’s a bad infection. Hope this helps and try to rest up!
Mallory says
Thanks for the tips, Mindy. I’ll have to look into colloidal silver, I want to avoid round two if at all possible.
Sandy says
Talk to the pharmacist about putting a different flavor in the medicine so it will be taken more easily.
Rheagan says
Hi There – I stumbled upon this recipe via Pinterest. (I have a mountain of blackberries to get rid of…)
As for getting little ones to swallow their medicine, a friend of mine who is a doctor gave me this tip he learned in residency. It helps to squirt the medicine into his mouth, while holding his nose. Holding his nose will basically force him to swallow, and it will go a lot faster. Of course, you’ll feel like ‘mom-of-the-year’ while doing this, but it does work!
Jordan says
Hello, I really want to make these bars but I don’t exactly understand the part about the butter…what exactly do I do with it? And when the bars are done do they go in the refrigerator or can they sit out?
Tegan says
Hello, can I use frozen berries for this recipe? It looks delicious!
Christopher says
“Cut the blackberries in half”!? ARE YOU INSANE!?
Ohhhh . You mean” divide” them.
🙂 Even I don’t like blackberries THAT much.
Laney says
You may want to rewrite the #2 paragraph of the recipe. It’s a little ambiguous. It doesn’t read well.
Arlene says
Hi there! Can these stay on the counter at room temp or do you recommend storing in the fridge? Thanks so much! The first taste was amazing!
Rebekah says
Am I missing what to do with the other half of the blackberries?? I’m done and have a bowl of blackberries starting at me! ?
MB says
I think she did mean to cut the berries literally in half…but not happening in my kitchen…LoL. Since blackberries are so very juicy I decided t cook them a bit with the sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch to thicken. Then I simply poured it over the base crust and crumbled the remaining dough on top. Perfect…and easy treat! Thanks!!!
Sandra L. Lawson says
Could you use canned Blackberry pie filling? Thanks. Sandra
Pam says
This recipe wasn’t very good. I was expecting a tender, flaky crust similar to lemon bars. I should have caught the fact that adding eggs would change the texture. Instead it was tough and dense. And I am accustomed to making flaky biscuits and pie crust so I assume it wasn’t my technique.
Sharon says
Please proofread this recipe. In the introduction with the list of ingredients you state 3 large eggs beaten. Then in the instructions for making it you list one large egg beaten. I used your instructions with the one egg and now I’m hoping it turns out since it’s currently in the oven. I don’t usually get blackberries because I’m the only one that likes them and they’re pricey but I happen to get these on sale for .99 cents for 6oz. Do I use 1 egg or 3 eggs if I choose to use your recipe again.
Thank you,
Sharon
Sharon says
How many beaten eggs 1 or 3
Thanks
Mallory says
1 egg. I’m not seeing any reference to 3 in the post or recipe.
Bri says
I would also like to know what to do with the other half of the blackberries. Thanks in advance!
Mallory says
That means to cut the blackberries in half. You’ll put them all in the the pan at the same time.
Jackie says
Ask your pharmacist if they can add flavoring to your baby’s medicine. Use a syringe, and squirt med into his cheek. Blow in his face, so he will swallow. Then (most important) clap and cheer for him, for doing such a great job!!! Who doesn’t like an adoring audience? Always clap and tell him what a good boy and he will get better and better at taking his medicine. I did this with my two children. Also, as an RN, I used this technique many times with pediatric patients. I can’t tell you how many times, parents said right in front of their children, “They won’t take medicine.” Really? Why are they having surgery? What did you think would happen when they needed preliminary sedation or pain meds? Don’t say stuff like that in front of your kids, unless you just want to reinforce the problem. Approach them calmy, with a matter of fact attitude. They have to have their meds. End of story!
Your blackberry bars look great! I just found two bags of blackberries in the freezer. I’m going to make these tomorrow! Yum!! Good luck with your little one!♥️
Jackie says
I made your blackberry bars and they are yummy!!
I’ve added this to my “family favorite recipes” list.
Really yummy.