Streusel Topped Fruit Bars Recipe
Description:
Indulge in the delightful creation of Streusel Topped Fruit Bars, a heavenly treat that seamlessly blends the sweetness of fruits with the crunchiness of nuts, all enveloped in a buttery pastry. These bars are not only a delicious dessert but also make for perfect gifts during the holiday season. With a relatively simple preparation process, you’ll have a batch of these bars ready to impress your family and friends in no time!
Recipe Information:
- Category: Bar Cookie
- Keywords: Dessert, Cookie & Brownie, Fruit, Nuts, Weeknight, For Large Groups, < 4 Hours, Easy
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 32 bars
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 456.1
- Fat Content: 21.1g
- Saturated Fat Content: 11.3g
- Cholesterol Content: 45.8mg
- Sodium Content: 150.3mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 63g
- Fiber Content: 1.8g
- Sugar Content: 31.9g
- Protein Content: 5g
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 18 | unsalted butter |
| 3/4 | light brown sugar |
| 1/2 | pure vanilla extract |
| 1/2 | salt |
| 2 | unbleached all-purpose flour |
| 1 | cake flour |
| 1 | cornstarch |
| 1 | cold water |
| 1 | baking powder |
| 1/2 | all-purpose flour |
| 1 | salt |
| 1/4 | dark brown sugar |
| 1/4 | unsalted butter |
| 3/4 | powdered sugar |
| 6 | almonds |
Instructions:
-
Prepare Pan: Line a 9×13 aluminum baking pan with heavy-duty foil, ensuring to leave 2-3 inches of foil sticking out of the pan on the short sides to facilitate lifting the finished product.
-
Prepare Pastry:
- In a small bowl or plastic bag, mix flours and salt.
- Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), cream together the butter, vanilla extract, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Gradually add the mixed flours, one cup at a time, while mixing on medium speed until fully incorporated after each addition.
- Continue mixing until the dough starts to come together in large clumps.
- Press the dough into the prepared pan to form a layer about 1/4-inch thick.
- Prick the pastry with the tines of a fork or a wooden skewer.
- Chill the pastry until firm, approximately 20 minutes.
-
Preheat Oven: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F and position the rack in the center.
-
Roast Nuts: Spread the almonds on a cookie sheet and roast them for 5-10 minutes until hot and aromatic, taking care not to burn them. Allow them to cool.
-
Bake Pastry: Bake the pastry in the preheated oven until golden brown, typically 18 to 20 minutes. Once done, lower the oven temperature to 350°F and let the pastry cool for 10 minutes on a rack.
-
Prepare Topping:
- In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the topping, whisking to remove lumps from the brown sugar.
- Rub the unsalted butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse cornmeal, with a few pea-sized lumps of butter remaining.
- Add the roasted almonds to the mixture and toss to combine. Set aside.
-
Prepare Filling:
- In a small saucepan, heat the jam until it simmers while stirring continuously.
- Add the cornstarch-water mixture to the simmering jam and bring it back to a simmer for 60 seconds. Remove from heat.
-
Assemble and Bake:
- Spread the prepared filling evenly onto the baked crust.
- Sprinkle the topping mixture over the filling.
- Bake the assembled bars for 20-30 minutes or until lightly browned and aromatic.
-
Cool and Serve:
- Allow the bars to cool on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, remove them from the pan and cut into bars.
- Finally, sift powdered sugar on top for an added touch of sweetness.
These Streusel Topped Fruit Bars are best enjoyed fresh but can also be stored in an airtight container for several days. Serve them as a delightful dessert or package them beautifully to share with loved ones as homemade gifts during the holiday season. Enjoy every delicious bite! 🍓🌰🍪
