Blueberry Bars Recipe
Blueberry bars are a delicious treat featuring a buttery, crumbly crust layered with sweet, juicy blueberries and a golden, streusel-like topping. The berries become soft and jammy as they bake, creating a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavours. Whether enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or breakfast treat, these bars are a simple yet irresistible way to enjoy fresh or frozen blueberries.
In this blog post, you will learn how to make blueberry bars.
How to Make Blueberry Bars
Preheat your oven and grease your 9”x13” pan.
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Cut the cold, unsalted butter in small cubes and cut them into the flour mixture. Use either a pastry cutter or a food processor. Read my How to Cut in Butter blog post on how to cut in butter into your recipes. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixture and mix in.
Press your crumble mixture into the bottom of your greased pan.
Wash and dry your blueberries. Place them into a medium bowl.
Pour in the granulated sugar and cornstarch. Coat the blueberries.
Pour the blueberries on top of the crumble base, keeping the layer nice and even.
Lastly, add the crumble top layer.
Bake for 1 hour or until the top is nicely golden-brown.
Remove from the oven and let completely cook before slicing up in squares to serve.
Storage
To store blueberry bars, let them cool completely before placing them in an airtight container. Keep them at room temperature for up to 2 days
Refrigerate them for up to 5 days for longer freshness.
If you want to store them longer, put them in the freezer in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
When ready to eat, thaw at room temperature or warm them slightly in the oven for a freshly baked taste.
Ingredients
All-Purpose/Plain Flour: all-purpose flour is the foundation of both the crust and the crumble topping, flour provides structure and a light, tender texture. It helps create a buttery, slightly crisp base that holds the juicy blueberry filling perfectly.
Granulated Sugar: granulated sugar adds sweetness to both the crumble and the blueberry filling, balancing the tartness of the berries. It also helps achieve a golden, slightly crisp topping while enhancing the overall flavour of the bars.
Baking Powder: baking powder is a small yet essential ingredient, baking powder gives the crust and crumble topping a light, airy texture. It prevents the bars from becoming too dense and ensures a delicate bite.
Salt: salt enhances the flavours of the other ingredients by balancing the sweetness. A pinch of salt brings out the richness of the butter and the natural sweetness of the blueberries.
Unsalted Butter: unsalted butter provides richness and helps bind the crumble mixture together. When baked, the butter melts into the flour and sugar, creating a golden, crisp, and slightly chewy texture that makes the bars irresistible.
Egg: the egg adds moisture and structure to the crust, giving it a slightly soft yet sturdy texture. It helps hold everything together while contributing to a rich and tender base.
Fresh Blueberries: Fresh blueberries are the star ingredient. When baked, they become juicy and jam-like, creating a sweet and slightly tart filling. Their natural burst of flavour makes every bite delicious and refreshing.
Corn Starch: corn starch acts as a thickener, preventing the blueberry filling from becoming too runny. It helps create a smooth, jammy consistency that holds together when the bars are sliced.
Tips
- If using frozen blueberries, thaw them first and drain the juice before using.
Looking for more Blueberry Recipe? Try these recipes below!
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes
- Blueberry Bagels
- Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
Blueberry Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c. all-purpose/plain flour
- 3/4 c. sugar granulated
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 c. butter unsalted, cold and cubed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 c. fresh blueberries
- 1/4 c. sugar granulated
- 1 tbsp. corn starch
Instructions
- Preheat your own to 350℉/176℃/Gas Mark 4.
- Grease a 9”x13” pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, 3/4 c. granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Cube the cold, unsalted butter and cut it into the flour mixture using either a pastry cutter or food processor. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix in.
- Press half of the mixture into the base of the pan.
- In a medium bowl, pour your fresh, washed blueberries into it. Add the 1/4 c. granulated sugar and cornstarch and mix until the blueberries are fully coated.
- Pour the blueberries over the mixture in the pan, making sure that they are laid out evenly.
- Lastly, spread the rest of the crumble topping on top of the blueberries.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the edges of the bars are lovely golden-brown colour.
- Remove from the oven and let cool fully before slicing the bars and serving.
Notes
Author: Sarah Young
In this blog post, you learned how to make buttery, blueberry bars.