Blueberry Crumb Bars

These blueberry crumb bars are just luscious! They're buttery, crumbly, chewy, gooey and bursting with blueberry flavor. They're the perfect anytime treat. Breakfast, Yes! After lunch snack, Yes! Potluck friendly, Yes! Dinner dessert (warm with a scoop of ice cream), Yes! You really can't go wrong with these.

Fresh blueberries are mixed with lemon juice, sugar and corn starch and poured over a lemon scented shortbread crust. I really liked the addition of the lemon in these. It brought out the flavor of the blueberries and gave the bars a wonderful sweet and tangy flavor (but not too zippy).

Fresh cherries or strawberries and orange zest would be a nice combo. Blackberries and lemon would be tasty too. And, cranberries, cinnamon and orange would be yummy come fall time.

I just had to scoop a bite or five as soon as they came out of the oven. Drool.

After sneaking a scoop, cool completely and cut into bars. Yum!

Now go make some!!

Blueberry Crumb Bars

1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.

3. In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Recipe Source: Smitten Kitchen