A perfectly delicious handheld treat made with fresh or frozen blackberries. These blackberry pie bars have a flaky crust filled with a creamy custard with tons of blackberries.
Make with fresh or frozen blackberries.
Why make this recipe
Oh my goodness! Are these a pie, a bar or a pie bar? Kind of tricky right? I'm calling this delicious dessert Blackberry Pie Bars. These bars are so great to serve at a family barbecue or bring to a potluck dinner.
These are a pie made into a bar that won't fall apart when you pick it up.
This recipe is easy to make with a crust that doesn't require any rolling out. You just assemble and then press into a pan. It couldn't be any easier.
Key ingredients
Crust
- Flour
- Sugar
- Butter
Filling
- Blackberries - fresh or frozen
- Sour cream
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
Step by step directions
- Place flour, sugar and salt in the food processor. Pulse 3-4 times to mix.
- Cut up butter into small cubes and add to food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- The dough will look very dry.
- Grab a small handful and squeeze together. The dough should hold together.
- Place 1 cup of the flour mixture aside and save to use as a topping.
- Place remaining mixture into a greased 9 X 13" glass baking dish.
- Pat mixture down in dish so it forms together.
Filling
- In a large bowl combine sour cream, eggs and cornstarch together
- Mix in sugar
- Add cinnamon, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla
- Gently fold in blackberries
- Pour mixture on top of unbaked crust
- Add a few additional blackberries to surface of mixture
- Take remaining flour mixture and press lightly together into small pieces
- Sprinkle flour mixture over top
- Bake for 1 hour until center is no longer wiggly.
- Allow bars to fully cool before slicing and serving
- Top with fresh blackberries, if desired
Recipe tips
- Be certain oven is fully preheated to 350° before baking
- If using frozen berries, do not thaw before adding to filling. Increase baking time by up to 15 minutes.
- When bars are baked through, the center should not be wiggly
- Allow bars to fully cool before slicing and serving
Recipe Faqs
These bars are best eaten fresh. You can store at room temperature for up to two days.
Yes, frozen blackberries can be used in this recipe. Do not thaw berries before adding to the filling. Increase baking time by up to 15 minutes.
More blackberry recipes
We picked a lot of blackberries last year and froze them by the gallons. I freeze blackberries with the same method I use to freeze raspberries.
In addition to these bars I also make baked french toast, blackberry muffins and blackberry jam with the berries.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
More pie recipes
Check out all my delicious desserts!
Blackberry Pie Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 10 tablespoons butter (cut into small cubes)
Filling
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (freshly grated)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups blackberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
Crust
- Place flour, sugar and salt in the food processor. Pulse 3-4 times to mix.
- Add butter to food processor. Pulse until well combined.
- The dough will be very dry. Grab a small handful and squeeze together. The dough should hold together.
- Reserve 1 cup of dough for the topping.
- Place dough into a greased 9 x 13" baking dish. Pat dough down so dough is flat in dish.
Filling
- Combine eggs, sour cream and cornstarch together in a bowl.
- Add sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla and combine.
- Fold in blackberries.
- Pour mixture over prepared crust.
- Use remaining crust you set aside to place on top of liquid mixture. Squeeze flour together so the dough forms small pieces. Sprinkle on top.
- Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 1 hour.
- Let cool before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Be certain oven is fully preheated to 350° before baking
- If using frozen berries, do not thaw before adding to filling. Increase baking time by up to 15 minutes.
- When bars are baked through, the center should not be wiggly
- Allow bars to fully cool before slicing and serving
Amy says
After reading the reviews, I realized that absolutely no none had actually MADE these pie bars. Not sure how you can review something you haven't baked or eaten but....oh, well. So I thought I would try these.
*Caveat: I'm not a huge fan of blackberries but have them growing wild all over my farm. Rather than see them go to waste, I decided to try some deserts. So please take into consideration that I'm not a huge blackberry fan when looking at my rating. Despite all that, these pie bars are quite tasty.
The recipe is quick and easy - I have a food processer but didn't see the need to use it for this recipe and it still ended up looking and tasting great. I did not change a thing - no additions or subtractions - and my family really enjoyed them. I did not de-seed the berries (I don't think the recipe calls for it anyway - or else I missed it) so they were quite seedy. That is the only thing I might change when making the recipe again.
The taste isn't overpowering; just a subtle hint of sweetness, and the crust and topping weren't cloyingly sweet, either (I do like very sweet desserts but this one was not too sweet and not too bland). A nice way to utilize those blackberries and get your sweet tooth fix for the day!
Kathy says
Hi Amy,
Thank you for your comment. Good for you for trying these, even though you don't care for blackberries. I'm glad you found them quite tasty.
Thank you,
Kathy 🙂
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Kathy, these blackberry pie bars look just wonderful! Love those big juicy blackberries. So easy using the same mix for the topping and the crust.
Kathy says
Thanks, Kelly! These are super easy to make and the blackberries add so much flavor!
Matt @ Total Feasts says
Oh, I love love love blackberries! What a great idea, the only time I've actually baked with blackberries is if I'm making a crumble. These bars sound delightful, and a perfect tea time dessert!
Kathy says
Thanks, Matt!
Nicoletta says
Wow, I was almost missing these beauties! Pie bars, with delicious blackberries nestled inside!! That is one wonderful dessert, Kathy!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
These look totally delicious Kathy! Fruit bars are a regular during the summer here at the beach. I will definitely be adding these to my baking list!
David @ Spiced says
I absolutely love blackberries! I keep hoping I'll stumble on a wild patch of blackberries somewhere around here, but it hasn't happened yet. We had a great blackberry patch in the old house, so I need to start a new one here. In the meantime, I'll have to rely on storebought berries. These pie bars sound (and look) incredibly tasty, Kathy! Perfect summer dessert!
Kathy says
Store bought berries are delicious too. 🙂
Valentina says
A pie, a bar, a cookie -- I'll take this in any shape or form. Love that it works with frozen berries, too. That way the deliciousness lasts all year long. 🙂
Kathy says
I just need to make certain I stock my freezer with blackberries again this summer so I can enjoy these all year long!
Cheryl says
Yum! Looks great. There are tons of blackberries growing all over the pasture. I discovered some new brambles when riding my horse around the field a couple of days ago. Ouch! I think I'm going to get back into picking and freezing blackberries again. I tend to bake blackberry pie with the ones I pick, but I'm always looking for different recipes to try - thanks!
Kathy says
I think it's time to get picking again - and baking!
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl says
Kathy, this looks so Summery and delicious! I'm all about anything pie - especially when it's handheld like this! Perfect to pair with my coffee!
Kathy says
It's a delicious summertime dessert!
Fred G says
What a great idea.
Kathy says
Thanks!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
From that gorgeous crust to that delicious berry filling, I'm all over this one Kathy! It just screams summer! So perfect with a tall, cold glass of milk right about now 🙂 Happy Friday to ya!
Kathy says
It's a delicious treat and a cold glass of milk is a perfect accompaniment!