Fresh Blackberry Crumble Bars

Fresh blackberries just sing summer, don't they? Here's a great way to use up some fresh blackberries that isn't a pie or cobbler. Serve them for breakfast, or as an afternoon pick-me-up, with a glass of cold milk, or some coffee or tea.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 330 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 cups fresh blackberries
• ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
• cooking spray
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup flour
• 6 tablespoons seedless blackberry jam
• ¾ cup uncooked quick-cooking oats

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine blackberries, blackberry preserves, white sugar, cornstarch, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt in a small saucepan.

Step 2

Heat on medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and continue stirring, occasionally, 7 to 10 minutes, making sure the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

Step 3

When the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line an 8x 8-inch baking pan with a large piece of parchment paper, covering the bottom and coming up on 2 sides, to make a sling. Spray parchment paper and exposed sides of the pan with cooking spray.

Step 5

Combine oats, flour, light brown sugar, sliced almonds, cinnamon, soda, and salt in a bowl; stir until well mixed. Drizzle in melted butter, tossing and stirring the crumble ingredients until the flour and oats are incorporated.

Step 6

Spread out 2 cups of the crumble mixture onto the prepared pan, using finger tips or the bottom of a measuring cup to firmly flatten and smooth.

Step 7

Pre-bake in the preheated oven about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Step 8

Pour filling over the crust, and sprinkle on remaining crumble mixture evenly over the top. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the top is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly, about 40 minutes.

Step 9

Cool completely in the pan, 1 to 2 hours.

Step 10

When the bars are cool, use the parchment to lift the them out of the pan. Cut into 9 servings, and serve at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers.