Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars Recipe

Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars

5.0

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2 Reviews

This bar is called a crunch for a reason.

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Updated on July 2, 2023

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

5 hrs 30 mins

Servings:

Consider yourself warned: A blueberry-lemon crunch bar may look like a bar cookie, but you'll need a fork to eat it. Similar to a crisp with baked fruit and a crumbly topping, a crunch sandwiches a layer of jammy fruit between two buttery layers.

While other fruit desserts are on the syrupy side, this fruit is cooked down into a flavor-packed, thick preserve. The bottom layer should be firm enough not to crumble when a piece is cut from the pan, so adding toasted pecans to the mix improves the taste as well as the texture. The top layer can duplicate the bottom, or it can be a simple streusel topping made with flour, sugar, and butter.

Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Ingredients

Filling

4 cups fresh blueberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon zest plus 3 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 2 lemons)

Crust

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 tablespoons heavy cream

Topping

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter

Directions

Prepare the Filling:

Combine berries, sugar, cornstarch, zest, and juice in a saucepan over medium-high; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, mashing berries as they cook, until thick and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Prepare the Crust:

Stir together flour, pecans, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
Combine Crust ingredients:

Combine sugar, butter, and shortening in a large bowl, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, beating until combined. Gradually add cream, beating on low speed until incorporated.
Shape Crust:

Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat at low speed until well combined. Divide dough in half; place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. Shape each half into a 6- x 4-inch rectangle, about 1 inch thick. Wrap, and freeze 2 hours.
Prepare the Topping:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut butter into mixture until it resembles small pebbles. Chill until ready to use.
Bake bars:

Using a box grater or a food processor fitted with a grating blade, grate half of the dough (leave remaining half in freezer). Press grated dough into bottom of a 9-inch square pan coated with cooking spray. Bake in preheated oven until beginning to brown around edges, 12 to 14 minutes.
Add filling, and continue to bake:

Remove pan from oven. Carefully spread Filling over Crust, from edge to edge. Grate remaining half of dough, and sprinkle over Filling; gently press. Sprinkle Topping over dough. Bake in preheated oven until well browned, 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool bars:

Cool completely on wire rack, about 2 hours. Cut into 12 bars.