Description
Luscious peach pie crumble bars blend summer’s sweetest stone fruit with a buttery, crumbly crust that celebrates homemade comfort. Bakers can savor rich layers of caramelized peaches nestled between golden, crisp pastry edges.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (600 g / 21.2 oz) peaches, fresh or canned, peeled and diced
- 3 cups (375 g / 13.2 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g / 7.1 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup (65 g / 2.3 oz) granulated sugar
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing slight overhang. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an optimal baking environment.
- Crust and Crumble Formation: Blend melted butter with sugars, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Gradually fold in flour, mixing until a crumbly, sandy texture emerges. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of mixture for topping.
- Base Establishment: Press remaining crumble mixture firmly into the pan, creating a uniform foundation. Bake for 10 minutes to develop a crisp base, ensuring a sturdy platform for the dessert layers.
- Fruit Filling Creation: Toss peaches with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon juice, coating each piece evenly to create a harmonious, thickened fruit mixture.
- Assembly and Topping: Spread peach mixture across the partially baked crust in an even layer. Generously distribute reserved crumble mixture over the fruit, ensuring complete coverage.
- Final Baking: Return to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Look for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit edges, signaling perfect caramelization and optimal doneness.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow bars to cool completely in the pan. Lift entire dessert using parchment edges, then slice into precise squares, revealing layers of buttery crust and luscious peach filling.
Notes
- Select Ripe Peaches: Choose peaches that are fragrant, slightly soft when gently pressed, and free from bruises to ensure the most flavorful and juicy filling.
- Prevent Soggy Crust: Allow the base layer to pre-bake for 10 minutes, creating a protective barrier that prevents fruit moisture from making the bottom soggy and maintains a crisp texture.
- Control Fruit Moisture: Toss peaches with cornstarch to absorb excess liquid, preventing runny filling and ensuring a perfect jammy consistency that holds together when sliced.
- Customize Crumble Texture: Adjust the crumble’s sandy mixture by adding more flour for a drier topping or slightly less for a more clumpy, rustic appearance that delivers delightful crispy bits.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg