Raspberry Crumble Bars: A Sweet, Buttery Hug in Every Bite!

Hello Bloomers!

While fresh raspberry season may still be months away, I always find myself making these Raspberry Crumble Bars around Valentine’s Day as a special treat for loved ones. I fell in love with raspberries very early on – eating them brings back childhood memories of growing up in Vancouver, Canada, where we would spend summer days berry-picking, gathering baskets of raspberries, eating as many as we picked, and falling in love with their sweet-tart flavor.  So how perfect to gift them to those you love on a day meant to express love, appreciation, and gratitude for the people in our lives!

These bars are the perfect blend of crisp, buttery goodness and jammy, fruity bliss and are so easy to make!  You can take the time to make your own raspberry filling or simply use a high quality raspberry preserve (I used Bonne Maman) to save time, but not skimp on flavor!  

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (2 sticks)

3/4 cup sugar

13 ounces of high quality raspberry preserve (I used Bonne Maman)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

2/3 cup granola (I used organic Vanilla with Almonds granola)

Confectioner’s sugar & a few fresh raspberries

Instructions:

1.     Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, letting a little hang over the sides for easy removal.

2. Mix the ingredients:

Place the butter and sugar in a bowl (using a hand mixer, or an electric mixer with the paddle attachment) and mix on medium until combined. Switch to low speed and add the vanilla. Still on low speed, now sift and add the flour and salt together to the butter mixture.

3.     Add 2/3rd of the dough to the bottom of your 9-inch baking pan, spreading up the sides about ½ inch.

4.     Evenly spread the raspberry preserve over the dough.

5.     With the remaining dough, add your granola and mix together to form a crumble and then sprinkle on top of the preserve, covering the entire pan.

6.     Bake for approximately 45 minutes – until golden brown.

7.     Once cooled, add confectioner’s sugar and fresh raspberries, if you like. For an extra indulgence, serve them with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Bliss!

These Raspberry Crumble Bars are a celebration of everything wonderful about raspberries—bright, bold, sweet, and a little bit sassy. So go ahead, whip up a batch, share them with friends and let the magic of raspberries brighten your day! 🍓💕