Sweet Cherry Crumble Bars – Easy Dessert Recipe for Any Crowd

Hi there, food lover! 👋 Ready to bake a dessert that never fails to please a crowd? These Sweet Cherry Crumble Bars are a beloved classic, rooted in traditional home baking where simple ingredients came together to feed many with warmth and generosity. From family gatherings to bake sales and holiday tables, crumble bars have always been a dependable favorite—easy to slice, easy to share, and always comforting.

Cherries, with their deep ruby color and balance of sweetness and gentle tartness, have long been treasured in rustic desserts. Paired with a buttery crumble, they create layers of texture and flavor that feel both humble and special. These bars celebrate that tradition: a tender base, a juicy cherry filling, and a golden, crumbly topping that bakes into irresistible perfection.

What makes this recipe truly special is its versatility. It’s sturdy enough to travel, elegant enough to serve with coffee ☕, and simple enough for beginner bakers. You can use fresh cherries when they’re in season or good-quality cherry preserves when time is short—either way, the result is deeply satisfying.

These bars are not about fuss or precision; they’re about comfort, abundance, and sharing something homemade with people you care about. One pan, a few bowls, and a little patience is all you need. Let’s bake a dessert that brings everyone back for seconds.

🧈 Ingredients

Crust & Crumble

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cherry Filling

• 3 cups cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)

🍒 Step-by-Step Directions

1. Prepare the oven
   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the crumble mixture
   In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in melted butter and vanilla until crumbly.
3. Form the base
   Press about two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
4. Prepare cherry filling
   In another bowl, mix cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and almond extract until evenly coated.
5. Assemble
   Spread the cherry filling evenly over the crust.
6. Add crumble topping
   Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture over the cherries without pressing down.
7. Bake
   Bake for 40–45 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling.
8. Cool and slice
   Let bars cool completely before slicing for clean edges.

🧾 Notes

• For extra flavor, mix cherries with a few raspberries.
• Bars slice best after fully cooled or lightly chilled.
• Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

🥗 Nutritional Information (Approximate)

⏰ Prep Time: 15 minutes | 🔥 Baking Time: 45 minutes | ⏳ Total Time: 1 hour
⚡ Calories per serving: ~260 | 🍽️ Servings: 16 bars

• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fat: 12g
• Protein: 3g
• Sugar: 22g

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Bon appétit and happy cooking!