Blueberries – the true essence of summer! Their arrival couldn't be more perfectly timed, adding a burst of vibrant color and flavor to your seasonal celebrations. They make Independence Day even more memorable, bringing a stunning pop of blue to desserts when paired with the rich red of strawberries. Together, they create a picture-perfect, naturally inspired masterpiece. These blueberry crumb bars are pure magic – sweet, buttery, and perfectly balanced with a golden crust and crumbly topping. Finding this recipe was a journey, but none of the others came close to delivering the flavor and texture of these bars. They're simply unforgettable and sure to become a favorite for any occasion!

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Ingredients

For the crumb crust and topping

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup cold butter (2 sticks), cut into cubes

1 large egg

For the blueberry filling

4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ cup sugar

3 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 cup of sugar and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is crumbly but holds together when squeezed. Reserve about 1 ½ cups of the mixture for the topping.

Press the remaining crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.

In a separate bowl, toss together the blueberries, ½ cup of sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch, until the berries are coated. Spread the blueberry filling evenly over the prepared crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the top.

Bake for 40 - 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting. For the cleanest slices, refrigerate the bars for at least an hour before serving. 

Notes:  I blended the butter, flour and sugar in the food processor. It makes a very fine crust and topping.

You can use most any fresh fruit like peaches, cranberries, raspberries or strawberries.