Description

Sweet, tangy, and crumbly—these easy Blackberry Bars are bursting with berry flavor and make the perfect summer dessert or snack!

Ingredients

For the Crust & Crumble:

1½ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter (cold and cubed)

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Blackberry Filling:

2 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen, thawed if frozen)

¼ cup sugar (adjust depending on sweetness of berries)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon lemon zest (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Crust and Crumble

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until combined and crumbly.

Press ⅔ of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Save the rest for the topping.

Step 2: Make the Blackberry Filling

In a bowl, gently toss blackberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and zest.

Spread the berry mixture evenly over the crust.

Step 3: Crumble and Bake

Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the berries.

Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbly.

Let cool completely before slicing into bars (they set as they cool).

Notes

Different berries: Swap blackberries with raspberries, blueberries, or a mix.
Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend.
Vegan: Sub plant-based butter and a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water).
Add nuts: Mix chopped almonds or pecans into the crumb topping

Keywords: blackberry bars, berry crumble bars, easy summer dessert, blackberry dessert, fruit bars recipe, buttery crust bars, blackberry crumble, homemade berry bars, fresh blackberry recipe, frozen blackberry dessert