Blueberry Crumb Bars

Published July 9, 2018. Updated April 14, 2020

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It’s blueberry season so that means one thing, we should all be making these Blueberry Crumb Bars! These are a go-to summer treat for me, I’ve been making them for years and everyone always loves them. They’re easy to make and those fresh blueberries just make them so unbelievably delicious!

stack of 5 blueberry bars on white plate

Blueberry Bars with Crumble Topping

We recently took a trip to Oregon and went berry picking at the berry farms there and I couldn’t have been happier, there were blueberries for days!

If you are planning a trip to the Portland area, I recommend going mid-summer just so you can go berry picking :) (we went to Columbia Farms U-Pick, but there’s several to pick from so just check your maps app). We went and bought a cooler and brought home 12 pounds of berries (half blueberry and half raspberry) and we were eating handfuls of them on the drive home.

Blueberries are the perfect snack, they make the best pancakes, the make the tastiest most refreshing smoothies, they’re juicy, they’re sweet and they’re just so poppable. And of course they also make the best desserts and these Blueberry Crumb Bars are proof of that! Try them you’ll see what I mean!

These blueberry crumble bars begin with a buttery shortbread-like layer, then atop that there’s a sweet, slightly lemony blueberry layer, then it’s finished with a second sweet crumb layer. In other words, it’s hard to stop at one bar!

I like these best when they are freshly baked and still warm. Of course they are still good the next day but that crisp crumb topping will soften a bit so if you are planning to make them for a get together then I’d definitely try to make them the day of.

We still eat them for a few days after but that fresh baked goodness just can’t be beat!

Blueberry Crumb Bar Ingredients

Blueberry Bars Ingredients

To make this fresh blueberry recipe, you’ll need the following:

  • Granulated sugar
  • Brown sugar (more granulated can be substituted)
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Vanilla
  • Blueberries
  • Lemon
  • Cornstarch

making crumble topping for blueberry bars

How to Make Blueberry Bars

First you’ll whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt), then whisk together the egg and vanilla in a bowl.

Add the cubed butter and egg mixture to the flour mixture and cut with a pastry cutter until you’ve got pea sized crumbles.

Press half of the crumb mixture into a prepared baking dish.

adding first layer of crumbs to pan for blueberry bars

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together remaining granulated sugar and cornstarch, then stir in lemon juice. Add in blueberries and toss to coat then pour blueberry mixture over first layer.

adding fresh blueberry filling to crumb bars base

Evenly sprinkle remaining half of crumbs over blueberry layer. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool partially then cut into squares.

Blueberry Crumb Bars sprinkling final crumb layer

Can I Use Frozen Blueberries?

Yes, but you’ll need to thaw and drain the frozen blueberries first so your bars don’t become soggy in the oven.

Can I Freeze Blueberry Bars?

Yes, but note that the texture will change. These fresh blueberry bars have a wonderfully crisp crumble topping, and that crispness is lost once frozen. However, these bars will still taste amazing!

Blueberry Crumb Bars in baking pan

Tips for Making Blueberry Bars

  • You could easily change up this recipe by using another fresh berry.
  • To make the filling more lemony, add the zest of one lemon.
  • You must let these blueberry crumb bars cool a bit before slicing them. If you try to slice the bars while they’re still hot, the filling will ooze out.

stack of 5 fresh blueberry bars on white plate

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Blueberry Crumb Bars
4.94 from 62 votes

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Here a crisp, buttery cookie-like crumb sandwiches a sweet, fresh, juicy blueberry filling and these things just couldn't get any better! They're the perfect use for all those fresh summer blueberries. I've been making them for years and everyone always loves them! 
Servings: 15
Prep20 minutes
Cook40 minutes
Cooling20 minutes
Ready in: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

Filling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish (also line with parchment and butter parchment if you'd like to lift them out easier), set aside. 
  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. 
  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together egg and vanilla until combine. 
  • Add egg mixture and cold butter cubes to flour mixture and using a fork or a pastry cutter, cut mixture together until it resembles coarse crumbs. 
  • Press 1/2 of the mixture evenly into prepared baking dish.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and cornstarch, stir in lemon juice. 
  • Add blueberries then toss mixture to evenly coat, pour and spread coated blueberries evenly over crust in baking dish. 
  • Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over berry layer. 
  • Bake in preheated oven about 38 - 42 minutes until top is golden brown.  
  • Allow to cool for about 20 - 30 minutes before cutting into squares.
  • Store cooled bars in an airtight container in refrigerator (rewarm in microwave for 10 - 15 seconds if desired).

Notes

  • You could easily change up this recipe by using another fresh berry. 
  • To make the filling more lemony, add the zest of one lemon.
  • Recipe Source: adapted from allrecipes.com
Nutrition Facts
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 402 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 43mg14%
Sodium 48mg2%
Potassium 132mg4%
Carbohydrates 66g22%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 27g30%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 415IU8%
Vitamin C 4.6mg6%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 2.4mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

 

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211 Comments

  • Kathy Kortes

    These bars are amazing: Pretty easy to assemble. Tastes great!

  • Rose

    Which size pan should I use to halve this? 8×8? Oven temp and cooking time for metal and glass pans? Thanks!!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes you should be able to halve for an 8 by 8 but without testing I couldn’t say for sure on bake time unfortunately.

  • Grace

    Hello! As I have a small oven, can I half everything for a 8×8 tray?

    3 cups (390g) all-purpose flour (spoon and level)–> 195g flour
    1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar –> 50g granulated sugar
    1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar –> 50g brown sugar
    1 tsp baking powder –> 1/2 tsp baking powder
    1/4 tsp salt –> 1/8 tsp salt
    1 large egg –> 1 large egg
    1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract –> 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
    1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes –> 113g
    1 Tbsp (9g) cornstarch –> 1/2 tbsp
    1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar –> 50g
    1 1/2 Tbsp (22ml) lemon juice –> 11ml
    4 cups (538g) fresh blueberries, at room temperature –> 269g

    thanks!

  • Bridget

    These were the perfect, most tasty bars! For this recipe, I used a full 2 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon for the filling portion, and that added a little more tang. I also added some brown sugar and sea salt flakes on top- simply delish!!! Thank you for the recipe, Jaclyn!

  • Christina Thesen

    This is easy to make and delicious. .I have made other recipes from your site and you have never steered me wrong. Thank you

  • Dina

    Loved this treat very much! My family really appreciated. Thank you for sharing Jaclyn!

  • Eddie Gray

    These Bars where delicious! Thanks for sharing. We went half Blueberry and half Blackberry (sliced all in half since blackberries are 2-3 times as large) = double Yummy. Also used King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour and also half the sugar with the other half a smaller percentage of Stevia zero cal sugar. Great idea on the lemon juice and we squeezed two lemons. Once again thanks for sharing.

  • Susan Mangano

    Just finished making these bars and they are delicious! Followed the recipe exactly as written and they came out perfect. Not too sweet. Nice crunchy top. I added a few tablespoons of finely shredded/chopped coconut to the topping crumble-DEEEElicious! Will make again for sure. Thank you for a perfect recipe.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      The coconut addition sounds delicious! Glad you enjoyed!