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Cozy Sour Cherry Pie Bars Recipe with Crunchy Almond Streusel

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These cozy sour cherry pie bars combine a tart and sweet cherry filling with a crunchy almond streusel topping, perfect for a quick and comforting dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (320g) sour cherry preserves
  • 1/2 cup (75g) fresh or frozen sour cherries (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (50g) almond flour
  • 1/3 cup (30g) sliced almonds
  • 1/3 cup (65g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch (23×23 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.
  2. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in 3/4 cup cold, cubed unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  3. Take about two-thirds of the dough and firmly press it into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes until just starting to turn golden.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup sour cherry preserves with 1/2 cup fresh or frozen sour cherries (if using), 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until well combined and no lumps remain.
  5. In another bowl, combine 1/2 cup almond flour, 1/3 cup sliced almonds, 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Pour in 1/3 cup melted butter and mix with a spatula until the mixture clumps together but still has some loose crumbs.
  6. Remove the par-baked crust from the oven and gently spread the cherry filling evenly over it. Sprinkle the almond streusel topping generously over the cherries, covering completely but not pressing down.
  7. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the streusel is golden brown and crisp. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
  8. Remove from oven and set on a wire rack to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing.
  9. Use a sharp knife warmed with hot water for neat slices. Serve plain or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Use cold butter for the crust to create flaky texture and melted butter for the streusel to crisp the nuts. Par-bake the crust to prevent sogginess. Let bars cool completely before slicing for cleaner cuts. If filling is too runny, add extra cornstarch. Can substitute almond flour with oat flour or use dairy-free butter for vegan version.

Nutrition

Keywords: sour cherry pie bars, almond streusel, cherry dessert, easy cherry bars, crunchy topping, quick dessert, homemade cherry bars

Find it online: https://yumbelle.com/cozy-sour-cherry-pie-bars-recipe-with-crunchy-almond-streusel-easy-and-perfect/