Description
Delight in these Peaches and Cream Crumble Bars featuring a buttery, crumbly crust layered with juicy, cinnamon-spiced fresh peaches and a rich drizzle of heavy cream. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, these bars combine the warmth of summer fruit with a comforting crumb topping, making for an irresistible dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and diced
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fruit Filling:
- 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars once baked.
- Mix dry ingredients for crust: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir well to evenly distribute all the dry ingredients.
- Incorporate butter into dry mix: Add the chilled, diced unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter in until the mixture forms coarse crumbs, resembling a sandy texture.
- Add egg and vanilla: Stir in the large egg and vanilla extract into the crumb mixture until fully combined. Set aside about 1 cup of this mixture for the crumble topping later.
- Form crust base: Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create a firm crust layer.
- Prepare peach filling: In another bowl, toss the peeled and sliced fresh peaches with lemon juice, cornstarch, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. This will coat the peaches evenly and help thicken the filling as it bakes.
- Assemble filling: Spread the prepared peach mixture evenly over the crust in the pan, creating a thick fruit layer.
- Add cream topping: Drizzle the heavy cream evenly over the layer of peaches to add richness and moisture to the bars.
- Sprinkle crumble topping: Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the tops of the peaches and cream, forming a delicious crumble layer.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the peach filling is bubbling.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, slice into bars and serve for a delightful dessert or snack.
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best flavor and texture.
- Peel peaches easily by blanching them in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transferring immediately to ice water to loosen skins.
- Ensure the butter is chilled and diced for a crumbly crust texture.
- Allow bars to cool completely to let the filling set, making slicing easier and cleaner.
- These bars can be refrigerated and served chilled or warmed slightly before serving.
