Description
Easy Huckleberry Crumb Bars with a buttery brown-sugar shortbread base, a jammy tart berry layer, and a golden crumble topping. One bowl makes both the crust and the topping. Works with fresh or frozen berries and makes 16 clean squares.
Ingredients
Crumb Base and Topping
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Huckleberry Filling
3 cups huckleberries, fresh or frozen (do not thaw)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with two crossed strips of parchment, leaving overhang on all four sides.
2. Whisk flour, both sugars, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add melted butter and vanilla; stir until no dry streaks remain and the mixture holds together when squeezed.
3. Press about two-thirds of the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan. Refrigerate the remainder.
4. Bake 18-20 minutes, until pale gold in the center and darker at the edges. Remove and increase oven to 375°F.
5. Toss the huckleberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and salt until no dry cornstarch remains.
6. Spread the berries evenly over the hot crust. Squeeze the chilled crumb into clumps and scatter over the berries, leaving gaps.
7. Bake 35-40 minutes at 375°F, until the topping is deep golden and the fruit bubbles thickly at the edges.
8. Cool on a wire rack. Run a knife around the edges while warm. Cool completely – at least 2 hours – then lift out with the parchment and cut into 16 squares.
Notes
Frozen berries go in frozen; add 5 minutes to the second bake.
Blueberries substitute well; reduce filling sugar to 1/3 cup.
Add 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats to the reserved topping for extra crunch.
Bars must cool fully before cutting or they will not hold their shape.
Store 2 days at room temperature, 1 week refrigerated, or 3 months frozen.
Total time includes 2 hours of cooling, which is required for clean slices.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.3g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 23mg