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Home » Desserts » Blueberry Crumb Bars

Published: Feb 10, 2020 · Modified: Jul 13, 2020 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Blueberry Crumb Bars

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Oatmeal bar with a blueberry filling on a white plate.

Blueberry crumb bars are a sweet dessert with a blueberry filling and an oatmeal crumb crust. These bars are perfect for a casual dessert or for a fun lunch box treat. Fresh or frozen blueberries can be used in this recipe.

Oatmeal bars with a blueberry filling cut into a square piece.

These blueberry bars are a fun treat! I've made a similar dessert in the past using applesauce in these oat bars and raspberry jam in raspberry oat bars and apricot jam in these apricot bars.  For this recipe I made a quick pie filling and added it to the bars.  You might like is peach crumb bars or strawberry bars.

Blueberry bars with an oatmeal crumb topping.

Table of Contents
Make the crust
Make the filling
Fresh or frozen blueberries
Does it matter what kind of oats I use?
Tips for making Blueberry Crumb Bars
Other great blueberry recipes
Blueberry Crumb Bars

Make the crust

This crust is easy to make. I do it all in the food processor and the ingredients are simple. You just need flour, brown sugar, butter, ground cinnamon, salt and oats.

To make the bars,

  1. Place everything except oats in the food processor
  2. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
  3. Add oats and pulse until incorporated
  4. Divide mixture in half and press half the mixture into the bottom of a pan.
  5. Save the other half to crumble over filling
A food processor bowl filled with flour, butter and spices.1
Oat crust pressed into a glass casserole dish.4
Old fashioned oats added to a mixture in a food processor bowl.3
Blueberry Crumb Bars in a glass baking dish.

Make the filling

You need blueberries, cornstarch, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and water.

  1. Add all filling ingredients to a pot.
  2. Heat over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Stir often to avoid scorching.
  3. Remove from heat and pour over crust
Blueberries with sugar, and lemon zest in a pot.1
A layer of blueberry filling in a glass dish.3

Bake in a low 325 degree oven for 40 minutes.

Fresh or frozen blueberries

One of the best parts of this recipes is that you can use either fresh or frozen blueberries! I often have blueberries in my freezer and it's so easy to pull them out and add to this recipe. You will use fresh or frozen berries in the exact same way and the only thing that will change is it will take a few extra minutes for the frozen berries to come to a simmer.

Does it matter what kind of oats I use?

I use old fashioned oats which are a thicker, slower cooking oat. I don't care to use quick oats or 1 minute oats. They will work in this recipe, but I prefer the oats to be a bit more substantial in the crust. You can use whatever you have on hand.

A blueberry dessert on a plate with a small piece of dessert cut onto a fork.

These blueberry bars are best eaten at room temperature. The bars will hold together once they are cooled. I've cut these apart while still warm and they are delicious, but the bars don't hold their shape very well.

Tips for making Blueberry Crumb Bars

  • Use old fashioned oats for the best texture
  • Cut butter into small pieces before adding to food processor
  • Add a bit of water to the bottom of the pot prior to adding blueberry filling ingredients. This helps prevent scorching before the blueberry juices start flowing.
  • Allow bars to cool before cutting and serving

A glass dish filled with blueberry crumb bars.

Other great blueberry recipes

  • Blueberry pancakes
  • Blueberry lemon bread
  • Blueberry muffins
  • Blueberry banana coffee cake
  • Blueberry popsicles
  • Blueberry lemon bundt cake

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

Looking for other great recipes? Check out all my delicious baking recipes here!

Oatmeal bars with a blueberry filling cut into a square piece.

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Kathy
Sweet blueberry filling with an crumbly oat crust.
4.89 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Food Processor
  • Zester
  • Glass Baking Dish 7x11
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 1 cup butter (cut into small pieces)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup oats

Filling

  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 3 cups blueberries
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • lemon zest (from one lemon)
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions
 

Crust

  • Place butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt in a food processor.
    1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Pulse until mixture is combined and crumbly.
  • Add oats and pulse until combined.
    1 cup oats
  • Divide mixture into two equal parts. Place one half into a greased 11 X 7 inch baking dish. Pat crust firmly down. Reserve other half for top.

Filling

  • Place water, berries, sugar, corn starch, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until simmering. Remove from heat.
    1 Tablespoon water, 3 cups blueberries, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons corn starch, lemon zest, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1 pinch salt
  • Pour filling over prepared crust.

Baking

  • Sprinkle remaining crust on top.
  • Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 40 minutes.
  • Allow bars to fully cool before cutting and serving. Cut into 12 equal pieces.

Notes

Tips for making Blueberry Crumb Bars
  • Use old fashioned oats
  • Cut butter into small pieces before adding to food processor
  • Add a bit of water to the bottom of the pot prior to adding blueberry filling ingredients. This helps prevent scorching before the blueberry juices start flowing.
  • Allow bars to cool before cutting and serving
  • Fresh or frozen berries may be used in this recipe

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 242mgPotassium: 104mgFiber: 2gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 493IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
Keyword blueberry bars, blueberry crumb bars, oat bars
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Comments

  1. Connie's cooking says

    April 18, 2021 at 6:12 am

    4 stars
    I made the apple version of this recipe twice. So good!
    With this recipe you mention lemon zest, but when I jump to the recipe, it is no longer mentioned. Could you clarify? Zest or no zest?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 18, 2021 at 6:23 am

      Hi Connie,
      You are correct - I somehow omitted the lemon zest and juice from the recipe card! I've updated it with the correct measurements. Thank you so much for checking and letting me know.
      Enjoy!
      Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  2. Allison Williams says

    March 02, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    Could oat flour be used instead if all purpose flour? These look delicious!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 02, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      Hi Allison,
      I have not used oat flour before so I don't know how it is for baking. If it's something you can normally substitute 1:1 in baking, then it should work fine.
      Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Allison Williams says

        March 04, 2021 at 5:11 am

        I did make it using only oat flour and measured it by weight and not volume. It turned out fabulous and was so delicious. This is definitely a keeper.

      • Kathy says

        March 04, 2021 at 5:19 am

        Wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know! 🙂

  3. Raine says

    February 03, 2021 at 10:33 am

    Can I double the recipe and use a larger pan

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 03, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Hi Raine,
      You should be able to double this recipe if using a larger pan. Let me know how they turn out!
      Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Valentina says

    February 11, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    5 stars
    I love that these can be a lovely after dinner dessert as well as an on-the-go snack -- or like you said, in the lunch box treat. Delicious in all cases. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
  5. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    February 10, 2020 at 7:28 am

    5 stars
    I LOVE anything blueberry Kathy, so I'll be trying these soon! Bet they're so delicious!

    Reply
  6. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    February 10, 2020 at 5:56 am

    5 stars
    I have a bunch of blueberries on hand so these crumb bars would be a perfect use for 'em! Love that buttery exterior and fruity interior! Perfect with my cuppa coffee right about now 😉

    Reply
  7. David @ Spiced says

    February 10, 2020 at 5:05 am

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for reminding me how much I love crumb bars! The oat topping is so good - I love oat topping on all sorts of baked goods, but then go add in the layer of fruit? Done! I could definitely go for one of these bars on this snowy Monday morning. Looks delicious, Kathy!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      February 10, 2020 at 5:31 am

      They are so simple, yet so delicious! Stay warm out there! 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

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