Description
These Peach Pie Crumb Bars combine the sweet, juicy flavor of ripe peaches with a buttery crumb topping and a tender shortbread crust. Perfect for summer gatherings or as a delightful dessert any time of year, these bars offer the nostalgic taste of peach pie in a convenient handheld form.
Ingredients
Crust and Crumb Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Peach Filling
- 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust and Topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold, cubed butter and vanilla extract. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside about 1 1/2 cups of this crumb mixture for the topping, and press the remaining crumbs firmly into a lined 9×13-inch baking pan to form the crust.
- Make the Peach Filling: In a separate bowl, toss the sliced peaches with sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well coated. This mixture thickens during baking and enhances the natural sweetness and flavor of the peaches.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread the peach filling evenly over the crust layer in the pan. Then sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the peach layer to create the crumb topping.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the assembled peach crumb bars for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the peach filling is bubbly and thickened.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve. These bars store well in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Fresh ripe peaches give the best flavor, but frozen peaches can be used if thawed and drained.
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of almond extract to the crumb mixture.
- These bars can be served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert.
- Make sure butter is cold to achieve a crumbly texture for both crust and topping.
