Blueberry Pie Bars
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
1 large egg yolk
1-2 tbsp cold water (if needed)
For the Filling:
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Crumble Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Prepare the Crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Mix in the egg yolk until the dough starts to come together. If the dough is too crumbly, add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until it holds together.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes to set the crust.
Prepare the Filling:
In a medium saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
Prepare the Crumble Topping:
In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.
Assemble the Bars:
Spread the blueberry filling evenly over the pre-baked crust.
Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the blueberry filling.
Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Cool and Cut:
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
For best results, chill in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the bars to set before cutting.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour
Kcal: Approx. 250 per bar | Servings: 12-16 bars