Blackberry and Blueberry Crumb Bars
Posted: 03/19/2014
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Blackberry and blueberry crumb bars are easy to make and so full of flavor thanks to a layer of blackberries and blueberries.
IS IT SPRING YET?!?!!? For real. I am getting so stinking stir crazy. And a little bored. I’m meeting new friends though. Today at the library, I saw a mom that I saw at the mall play area just last week (I was just there yesterday too, for the record). We’re allllll going stir crazy and I’m getting so tired of the same ol’ routine:
Monday: Play area at the mall.
Tuesday: Library.
Wednesday: Play date at friends or other fun indoor location (yes, we have taken our children rollerskating. Yes, it is hysterical. Yes, E loves/hates it.)
Thursday: Shopping or errands.
Friday: Open gymnastics or other INDOOR activity.
Sounds fun right? No really, it actually does sound fun. And it is fun. Was fun. The first 4 weeks of winter or so. Now? I’m craving summmmmmer. Parks. Zoos. Splash pads. Even just a walk around the stinkin’ block. C’mon Michigan!!! Throw us a bone.
I’m sure you’ll all be happy when it finally gets warmer too because then maybe I’ll finally stop complaining about it.
In the meantime, I’ll bake. And I’ll throw berries in and pretend they are not from Mexico.
About these crumb bars
These blackberry blueberry crumb bars are so good — the chewy oats give them great texture.
I could eat the filling with a spoon. Tons of crumb bar recipes use jam or jelly as a filling but it’s so easy to make the filling yourself with fresh blackberries and frozen blueberries (fresh would be great too…but…umm…yeah.).
These crumb bars are also flavored with plenty of lemon and lemon zest to freshen the whole thing up and then a little secret ingredient — cardamom! Cardamom adds an amazing subtle flavor that takes these crumb bars over the top. Enjoy!
More yummy bars!
A pan of bars is so much quicker to bake than cookies. Try some of these yummy recipes:
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Blackberry and blueberry crumb bars are easy to make and so full of flavor thanks to a layer of blackberries and blueberries.
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup blackberries
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons water
For the bars:
- 2 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned (or use a mix of both)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a small saucepan, mix together sugar and cornstarch. Add remaining filling ingredients (1 cup blueberries, 1 cup blackberries, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 3 tablespoons water). Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir frequently. Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook until thickened and berries are mostly broken down (10-15 minutes).
- Meanwhile, prepare dough for the bars. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cardamom, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and salt until well combined. Sprinkle mixture with 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Add butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks or knives to cut in the butter pieces until the mixture is crumbly and there are no large chunks of butter remaining.
- Spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Set aside 2 cups of crumb mixture. Pour the rest into the prepared pan and press down with fingers to form a uniform crust. Bake for 10 minutes or until set. Spread fruit filling evenly over crust. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture and press down gently (be careful for the hot pan!).
- Bake for an additional 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Lemon juice and zest needed for this recipe requires 2-3 lemons.
- If desired, use all blueberries or all blackberries.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1bar, Calories: 222kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 58mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 15g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Husband’s take: He likes them too — and I made him take them to work so I wouldn’t eat them all. Word is that people at his work are getting mad at me for sending them all my sweets. Anyone want to be my taste tester?
Changes I would make: None are necessary.
Difficulty: Easy.
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
Haha, look at that sneaky little guy in your cupboard – too cute! These bars are beautiful, Rachel! There’s no better spring/summer dessert than a crumb bar using fresh berries, and these are a knockout!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love bar cookies, because you do it in one batch and it’s over. Also because I never met a bar cookie I didn’t like. I have met some brownies I didn’t like because I often find brownies dry. I am never sure if it’s people’s recipes or they over bake them. This is a little different combo with the filling. I never met a berry I didn’t like either. I think we have a Bingo here.
Laura Dembowski says
These bars look awesome! I have found some blueberries from the US and I may have done a happy dance in the middle of the grocery store :) I live in MI too, and I can’t take this winter anymore. I’ve barely left the house.
Candice says
I love blackberries! Such a great way to get rid of all the blackberries out of my freezer! Can’t wait to try this!
Laurie {Simply Scratch} says
I think I still have a bag of frozen berries from last summer in the freezer. Making. These. STAT!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
Move your cute little butt to California where the sun is shining yearround and I am dying to have a playdate with you! We can hit up the zoo, go to the lake, run around like wild animals in the park … your choice! :) but um, before you load everyone up on the plane, make sure you stash a good batch of these bars, okay? I LOVE blueberries and the crumb is on point!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
Oh, I am so with you. I cannot wait to bust outta my house and be outside for longer than two seconds without freezing my tail off. Until then, I’ll just be eating these yummy bars all day every day. ;)
denise says
yum–I love blackberries! One of my favorite memories is picking them on my grandparents’ farm in Tennessee, then coming back to the house and eating them with sugar and cream. When I was really young, the cream was made from raw milk because they had their own cow.
Liz@Virtually Homemade says
Summer will be here soon. I want those bars for breakfast!!!
Kim | Just For Clicks says
Okay these look SO good. I’m picturing a pan of these, coffee, and time with girlfriends. YUM!!! PS ~ I have to say I am SO with you…. COME ON SUNSHINE AND WARM WEATHER!!!
Kathryn says
Oh I hope it gets a bit warmer for you soon! It can’t be fun at all being stuck inside with two small children all the time. On the other hand, it does mean that we get delicious looking treats like this!
Ell F. Hannan says
This recipe sounds so delicious that I plan to make a batch as soon as possible! However, the main reason that I chose to comment was that I wanted to mention that the photograph of the smiling baby in the cabinet is precious. Even the plastic carrot top in the bottom right-hand corner in front of the cabinet adds interest to this remarkable photograph. First, this photo reminds me that despite what some parents may believe that they need to purchase expensive toys for their children, this one says otherwise. Sometimes a wooden spoon, some pots and pans, reusable containers, and an empty cabinet are all that some children need to entertain themselves, which this photograph proves this point. Second, the smile on this baby’s face is contagious. This baby’s ingenuous joy and pleasure at sitting in this cabinet lifted my spirits. After observing this baby, I thought to myself, “This is going to be a great day!” Thank you for sharing this noteworthy photograph with others and with me.
steph@stephsbitebybite says
I hear you! We can’t wait for warm weather, but here in New Mexico spring means WIND. Like bad wind, so bad that you can’t go outside, so we all kind of hope for summer but then it’s too damn hot. Ugh. Never happy lol. But I’d be totally happy with a few of these little bars!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
I understand how the same routine gets old. We can’t even go outside because of all the dirt and wind blowing around here.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Your little guy in the cupboard is SO FREAKING CUTE! I die.
These crumb bars look delicious! My hubby LOVES blackberries and I love oatmeal…perfect marriage! Pinned