These buttery crumb bars are filled with mixed berries and a touch of lemon. This simple recipe uses the same mixture for the the crust and topping making ait an easy dessert you can whip up all summer long.
If you love baking with berries this is the recipe for you. Every bite is bursting with summer flavors and you can pack them up and take them wherever you are headed.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Made with basic ingredients
- The crust and topping are made from the mixture
- Filled with the fresh berries of your choice
- Flavored with vanilla and a touch of lemon
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Easy to slice and serve
Recipe overview
Crust and topping: A buttery, lemon-scented dough is used as both the crust and topping. Press half of it into the bottom of a pan, and reserve the rest for crumbling over the fruit.
Filling: Here’s where you can adapt this recipe to suit your taste (or whichever berries you have on hand). I like a mixture of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries (as pictured). You can absolutely use all of one berry or a mixture of berries. Cornstarch thickens the berry mixture and a touch of lemon complements the fresh flavors.
Recipe tips
- Line your pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal
- When grating lemon zest, only use the yellow part of the skin, not the white pith
- Mix up the types of berries to suit your tastes
- Chill in the fridge before cutting, this makes for cleaner slices
- Plan to make these the day you are serving them (ideally) or up to 24 hours in advance.
- If you love a crumb topping, you should also try our Raspberry Crumble Cookies
Serving options
These bars can be served chilled or at room temperature. Serve as-is or top with ice cream or whipped cream.
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Note July 2018: I changed this recipe just slightly. After a few comments requesting a larger quantity, I increased the recipe to make a 9×13 pan. I also added a bit of lemon to brighten the berry flavors.
More summer desserts
Recipe
Mixed Berry Crumble Bars
Ingredients
Crust and Topping:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- finely grated zest of 1 small lemon, optional, but so good!
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Berry Filling:
- 4 ½ cups chopped fresh berries, see note
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- juice of 1 small lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9×13 pan with foil or parchment, and butter or spray with non-stick spray.
For the crust and topping:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine granulated sugar, baking powder, flour, and salt. Add lemon zest, butter, egg, and vanilla. Beat on low speed until the butter is evenly distributed in small pieces and the mixture is crumbly.
- Dump a little more than half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Use your hand or the bottom of a measuring cup to evenly press the dough into the pan.
Filling:
- Gently stir together all ingredients until well incorporated.
- Spread the filling over the crust, then crumble the remaining dough over the top of the berries.
- Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes, until the top is light golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely. For the cleanest slices refrigerate before cutting.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Teri
This is a yummy berry recipe for summer gatherings!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
i love berry crumb bars! these are perfect for summer. and they look so so delicious!
Celebrating Sweets
Thank you, Thalia! I love them too.
Kristina
Is it 1 1/2 tablespoons butter or 1 1/2 sticks of butter ?
Celebrating Sweets
HI, Kristina. My apologies. I switched my recipe format and a couple of things didn’t transfer over properly. It should be 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons of butter). I’ve made the correction in the recipe. Sorry about that!
Denise
Can you use frozen berries?
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Denise. I wouldn’t recommend it, their extra moisture might make the crust and topping soggy.
Leslie
It might have been good to say something about using frozen berries, 30 no used in the oven and it is red goop.?
Celebrating Sweets
Bummer! So sorry to hear that, it is frustrating when you take the time to make something and it doesn’t come out right. I was sure to specify fresh berries in my recipe because I assumed frozen berries would have way to much moisture. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
Jessica Robinson
These look beyond delicious and I’ll definitely be trying! I’m going to try and use my homemade Mixed berry jam on top of them instead. Oh yum!
Emily
These look soo delicious, great for breakfast or dessert!
Dannii
What delicious little bars these are. I love how you have managed to pack so much fruit in to them.
Maria
These will definitely satisfy a sweet tooth! And I could totally justify eating them for breakfast because berries are good for you, right? 😉
Diana
Love these little bars! But I usually just use jam for the filling. Beautiful pictures too!
Caroline
I love that you don’t need to make a separate topping mix for these and I can’t get enough summer berries just now either. Look tasty!