Happy 4th of July everyone! After a really, really rainy June it looks like we just might get a glimpse of the sun on this long holiday weekend and I couldn't be happier! I'm planning to start the day with a trip to the farmer's market and then head into the kitchen to make dessert to bring to the cookout we're attending later in the day. There have been a ton of festive desserts popping up all over the web and I can't wait to get in on the fun!
I saw blueberries on sale at the store recently and went a little crazy piling pints of them into my basket. Fortunately, I had seen these blueberry crumb bars on Smitten Kitchen recently and was able to use up the last of my berries before they went bad. If you're still looking for a last minute dessert for today, these are an excellent option! They're super simple and come together in no time. You wind up with colorful little bars that are buttery and rich, sweet but not too sweet and just a tad bit tangy from the lemon juice and zest. I found the lemon flavor a bit more prominent than I expected but loved them nonetheless. These bars are terrific with blueberries, but I bet they'd also be delicious with raspberries or blackberries!
from Smitten Kitchen
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch
Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan (I used nonstick cooking spray).
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Gently fold in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the berry layer.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares. (I cut the bars after chilling them in the fridge for a bit which seemed to make it easier.)
22 comments:
Oooh, they look so summery and yummy!!
Katie xox
Oooh these look sooo good!!! Yummm
Everyone? Um, not everyone celebrates the 4th of July. This holiday is primarily based on one country, not the world.
Anyway, your blueberry crumb bars look good. I have a pint of blueberries sitting in my freezer begging to be used in a dish such as this one.
These look moist and delicious! I would like one right now! Happy 4th!
I already have my dessert(s) for today, but those bars are making wish I didn't; they look terrific!
I love that these are loaded with blueberries!!
Those look great, I will have to try them while the blueberries are in season. However, DON'T throw away any of your berries! I always buy extra when on sale and just throw them right into the freezer. They are great for baking or throwing on cereal. Can't waste those great berries!
Mmm, these look really delish!
I have been craving blueberry bars lately. These sound fantastic!
Awesome and totally delish looking, a perfect picture to tempt anyone.
Oh, yum. I saw these on Smitten Kitchen but I don't remember them looking this good!
MMMM - I have a ton of blueberries in my freezer right now - and was thinking about blueberry bars.
These looks great! Blueberries are my favorite fruit. They're just starting to come into season here in Maryland. I think I may try these!
I made these yesterday too - the exact same recipe! - and they were so delicious.
These look de-lish!
Those look really really good!
Well, I bet these went over well. Don't know how I missed these over on SK, so thanks for posting this one. They look so good.
So funny that we both posted blueberries for the 4th! I'm going to make a note of this recipe; we love all kinds of berries (blackberries are a kind of obsession with me).
Really Tracey, next year you might want to say "Happy 4th of July to Americans ONLY, NOT any non-Americans who happen to be reading this." *Sigh.* Anyway, your bluberry crumb bars look great! I've been overbuying blueberries lately - they are so good and so inexpensive everywhere I go, and I can't help to pick up a pint - so I plan to try this with some of them
Tried this today and they are awesome! The recipe halves nicely into a 8 x 8 pan. I baked it for around 25 minutes. Thank you for the recipe and mouthwatering pictures! Inspiring. :)
Ooh, delicious. I think I know what to do with the last of my frozen u-pick raspberries.
And I think everyone deserves a happy 4th of July, holiday or not!
Your bars look amazing!
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