These delightful blueberry crumble bars are a true crowd-pleaser, featuring a buttery crust, a sweet and juicy blueberry filling, and a perfectly crumbly topping.

They’re the kind of treat that disappears quickly at potlucks, picnics, or simply as an after-dinner dessert. This simple recipe is ideal for home cooks looking for a delicious, straightforward dessert that delivers on flavor and texture every time.

Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out in the kitchen, these blueberry crumble bars are designed to be approachable and fun to make. You’ll love how easily they come together, proving that you don’t need complicated techniques to create something truly special. Get ready to discover the details and add this fantastic recipe to your repertoire!

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

Blueberry Crumble Bars

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Yield: 12-16 bars 1x

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Description

These delightful blueberry crumble bars are a true crowd-pleaser, featuring a buttery crust, a sweet and juicy blueberry filling, and a perfectly crumbly topping. They’re the kind of treat that disappears quickly at potlucks, picnics, or simply as an after-dinner dessert. This simple recipe is ideal for home cooks looking for a delicious, straightforward dessert that delivers on flavor and texture every time.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 F (190 C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, then line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This parchment “sling” will make it much easier to lift the cooled bars out of the pan for cutting.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined and a crumbly dough forms. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.

3. Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Use your hands or the bottom of a flat glass to compact it firmly. This forms the buttery crust for your bars.

4. In a medium bowl, gently toss the fresh blueberries with the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Ensure the blueberries are evenly coated. The cornstarch will help thicken the juices as they bake, creating a luscious filling.

5. Pour the blueberry mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan. Spread it gently to cover the entire surface. Then, crumble the remaining one-third of the crumb mixture evenly over the blueberry filling. This will form your signature crumbly topping.

6. Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the blueberry filling is bubbly and set. You’ll notice the edges turning a deeper golden color and the fruit juices thickening.

7. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This is a critical step! Allow the bars to cool for at least 1 hour, or even longer, before lifting them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Once lifted, transfer them to a cutting board and slice into squares or bars.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Category: dessert
Method: baking
Cuisine: american

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar

Keywords: blueberry, crumble, bars, dessert, easy, sweet, fruit, bake, snack, potluck

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This recipe is a true gem for anyone seeking a delicious, no-fuss dessert that always impresses. You’ll love it because it’s incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something sweet but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. The combination of a tender, buttery base, a vibrant, fruity center, and a crunchy, sweet topping creates a texture and flavor profile that’s universally appealing. It’s a fantastic option for family gatherings, school bake sales, or simply as a comforting treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea. This recipe is designed for home cooks of all skill levels, ensuring a successful and satisfying baking experience every time.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start baking is key to a smooth and enjoyable process. This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh blueberries, ensuring you won’t need to hunt for obscure items. The beauty of these bars lies in their simplicity, utilizing ingredients that work together to create a harmonious balance of flavors and textures.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the butter, using unsalted allows you to control the salt content in the recipe. If you only have salted butter, you can reduce the added salt by half. All-purpose flour is standard here, but a gluten-free all-purpose blend can often be substituted if needed, though results may vary slightly. Fresh blueberries are highly recommended for their burst of flavor and texture, but frozen blueberries can be used in a pinch; just don’t thaw them first and you might need to bake a few minutes longer. The cornstarch is crucial for thickening the blueberry filling, preventing it from becoming too runny. Lemon juice brightens the flavor of the blueberries, adding a lovely zesty note.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

One of the best aspects of these blueberry crumble bars is how quickly they come together, making them an ideal choice when you want a homemade treat without a long wait.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 40-45 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour (essential for proper setting)
Total Time: Approximately 1 hour 55 minutes

While the active prep time is minimal, allowing the bars to cool completely is crucial for them to set properly and be easily cut into neat squares. Rushing the cooling process can lead to crumbly, messy bars, so patience is a virtue here!

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating these delicious blueberry crumble bars is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.

Prepare Your Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, then line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This parchment “sling” will make it much easier to lift the cooled bars out of the pan for cutting.
Create the Crumb Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined and a crumbly dough forms. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.
Form the Base Layer: Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Use your hands or the bottom of a flat glass to compact it firmly. This forms the buttery crust for your bars.
Prepare the Blueberry Filling: In a medium bowl, gently toss the fresh blueberries with the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Ensure the blueberries are evenly coated. The cornstarch will help thicken the juices as they bake, creating a luscious filling.
Assemble the Bars: Pour the blueberry mixture evenly over the pressed crust in the baking pan. Spread it gently to cover the entire surface. Then, crumble the remaining one-third of the crumb mixture evenly over the blueberry filling. This will form your signature crumbly topping.
Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the blueberry filling is bubbly and set. You’ll notice the edges turning a deeper golden color and the fruit juices thickening.
Cool Completely Before Slicing: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This is a critical step! Allow the bars to cool for at least 1 hour, or even longer, before lifting them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Once lifted, transfer them to a cutting board and slice into squares or bars.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

These blueberry crumble bars are wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit different tastes and occasions. For a fun twist, try mixing in a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb topping for added crunch and nutty flavor. If you’re out of blueberries, this recipe works beautifully with other berries like raspberries, blackberries, or a mixed berry blend. Just ensure the fruit is fresh or unthawed frozen for best results.

For serving, these bars are fantastic on their own, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream elevates them to an even more indulgent dessert. They make a perfect addition to a brunch spread, a casual picnic, or as a sweet treat in lunchboxes. For a kid-friendly option, consider cutting them into smaller, bite-sized squares. You can also drizzle a simple lemon glaze (powdered sugar mixed with a little lemon juice) over the cooled bars for an extra layer of sweetness and tang.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help ensure your blueberry crumble bars turn out perfectly every time.

Not cooling completely: This is the biggest mistake! If you try to cut the bars while they are still warm, the filling will be too soft and the bars will fall apart. Always allow them to cool for at least an hour, or even longer, until they are firm.
Overmixing the crumb mixture: When combining the dry and wet ingredients for the crust and topping, mix only until just combined and a crumbly texture forms. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher, less tender crust.
Too much or too little cornstarch: The cornstarch is key to a perfectly set filling. Too little, and your filling will be watery; too much, and it can become gummy. Stick to the recommended amount.
Forgetting the parchment paper: While not strictly necessary, lining the pan with parchment paper (especially with an overhang) makes removing and cutting the bars incredibly easy and mess-free. Without it, you might struggle to get them out cleanly.
Using thawed frozen blueberries: If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw them before adding them to the filling. Adding them frozen helps prevent the bars from becoming too watery. They will release their juices as they bake, and the cornstarch will thicken them.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

Proper storage is key to keeping your blueberry crumble bars fresh and delicious. Once completely cooled, store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you live in a very warm or humid climate, or if you want to extend their freshness, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just be aware that refrigeration can sometimes slightly alter the texture of the crust, making it a bit firmer.

These bars are also excellent for making ahead. You can bake them a day or two in advance, cool them completely, and store them as described. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked and cooled bars. Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature for

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.