The blend of warm spices and fruity filling in these Cherry Apple Crumble Bars is irresistible. Serve a square warm with vanilla ice cream for a delightful summer dessert that combines the bright sweetness of cherries with the crispness of apples.
We’ve been slowly packing boxes the last few weeks as we prepare to move across the country again. As I empty closets and drawers, I keep asking myself the same questions: why do we have so many towels for five people, and why did I hang on to all the jewelry-making supplies from a craft phase I haven’t revisited in years? It might be time to let go of things that no longer serve us.
One persistent mystery is the pile of curly-hair products tucked under the sink and in my closet. I try so many options because you never know which one will be a game changer. The downside is a collection of half-used bottles that don’t deliver the promised results. This week I’m committed to using up what I have — and if you spot me wearing a hat, you’ll know why.
Clothing has been another area of excess. After losing twelve pounds and dropping a couple of sizes, I found myself excited to buy clothes that actually fit. I went to the mall to pick up a dress I couldn’t stop thinking about and stumbled on a rack of jean capris. I had recently removed some oversized pairs, so a new, better-fitting option felt justified. I grabbed a much smaller size on impulse and, to my surprise, they fit perfectly — a small victory that made me do a little happy dance in the dressing room.
Now back to the important part: these bars. After the first bite I wondered why I hadn’t tried cherries and apples together sooner. The two complement one another beautifully: cherries bring bright sweetness while apples add texture and a touch of tartness. A while back I made brown butter blackberry crumble bars that were a hit, which inspired me to create another crumble-style bar using what I had on hand. A jar of cherry preserves in the fridge and a few apples needing use turned out to be the perfect pairing.
You can absolutely make these bars with only cherry preserves and skip the apples, and they’ll still be delicious. But adding diced apples gives the filling more body and creates a lovely balance between summer and the hint of autumn flavors. It’s a simple twist that elevates the texture and flavor of the bars.
With summer winding down and the kids heading back to school soon, these bars have become my go-to treat for savoring the last warm days. Heat a square briefly in the microwave and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an effortless, crowd-pleasing dessert.
If you have fresh cherries to use up, consider making a batch of preserves or trying this crumble bar version — they come together quickly and store well for picnics or potlucks.
Recipe
Cherry Crumble Bars Recipe
12 bars
15 minutes
30 minutes
45 minutes
The combination of spiced crumbs and a cherry-apple filling makes these bars both comforting and bright. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream for a simple but memorable dessert.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon ground anise
- 1 cup small batch cherry preserves
- ¾ cup finely diced apples
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8×8-inch pan with nonstick spray.
- Cream together the butter and brown sugar until light. Add the egg yolk and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- Stir the flour, oats, and spices together, then add to the butter mixture slowly until it forms coarse crumbs.
- Press half of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a crust.
- Combine the cherry preserves and diced apples, then spread evenly over the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumbs across the top and press down gently. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Whisk the powdered sugar with the water to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over the cooled bars and cut into 12 squares.
Notes
*Warm a square in the microwave for 10–15 seconds and top with vanilla ice cream for an extra-tasty serving suggestion.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 258
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 36mg
Sodium: 88mg
Carbohydrates: 43g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 26g
Protein: 2g
