Tasty Cherry Crumble Bars (Printable)

Buttery oat crumble layers with sweet, juicy cherry filling. Golden, handheld bars ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Crust and Crumble

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
03 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
04 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
05 - 1 tsp baking powder
06 - ½ tsp salt
07 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Cherry Filling

09 - 3 cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries, halved
10 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
13 - ½ tsp almond extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - Combine flour, oats, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
03 - Pour melted butter and vanilla extract over dry ingredients. Stir until mixture is crumbly and evenly moistened.
04 - Reserve 1 ½ cups of crumble mixture for topping. Press remaining mixture firmly into pan bottom to form crust.
05 - Toss cherries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract until evenly coated.
06 - Spread cherry mixture evenly over prepared crust.
07 - Sprinkle reserved crumble mixture evenly over cherry layer.
08 - Bake for 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.
09 - Cool completely in pan. Lift out using parchment overhang and cut into bars.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crust and topping come from one bowl, meaning less cleanup and more time enjoying your day
  • Frozen cherries work just as well as fresh, so you can make these year round without hunting down seasonal fruit
02 -
  • Pressing the crust firmly with the back of a measuring cup or glass prevents it from crumbling apart when you cut the bars
  • These need at least 2 hours to cool completely, so plan ahead and bake them in the morning if you want them for an evening gathering
03 -
  • Add a handful of chopped almonds or pecans to the reserved crumble topping for extra crunch and flavor
  • If your cherries are especially tart, taste the filling before adding it and sprinkle a little extra sugar over the top before baking

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