Blackberry Pie Bars

Sunday 7 September 2014

Blackberry Pie Bars

Today is the Toddster's Birthday.   He requested a fruitcake for his birthday.   That is his favourite of all cakes.  He's just an old fashioned guy with old fashioned tastes.   

No chocolate  fudge cakes for him . . . no Victoria sponges  . . .  no raspberry celebration cakes.  Just a plain old fruit cake and he's a happy camper.

Blackberry Pie Bars

This is the second dessert I made the other day when I had the Sister Missionaries over and let me tell you . . .  

I got plenty of oohs and ahhs over these too.   Blackberry Pie Squares.  Scrumdiddlyumptious!

Blackberry Pie Bars

Picture this . . .   a buttery shortbread cookie type of base . . .  topped with fresh blackberries . . .  topped with a rich sour cream filling . . .  

and a final topping of the shortbread mixture, crumbled this time . . .

Blackberry Pie Bars

baked until the whole thing melds together in a fabulously moreish bake . . .  


crisp on the bottom, rich and fruity in the centre, short and crumbly on top . . .

 Blackberry Pie Bars

I'll just have a smidgen you tell yourself . . .  just a tiny little square . . .  and then . . .

Blackberry Pie Bars

You cut yourself another little square  . . .  and then just a tiny sliver . . .  and then you sneak down the stairs at two in the morning and you cut yourself a tiny bit more . . .  because . . .

YOU JUST CAN'T LEAVE IT ALONE!  It's that good.  Yessum!  And you are asking yourself . . .  who ate all that cake?

 Blackberry Pie Bars
 
Trust me when I tell you that you are really, REALLY going to enjoy these scrumptiously delicious bars.  Resistance is truly futile! 


Blackberry Pie Bars

Blackberry Pie Bars

Yield: 16
Author: Marie Rayner
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 55 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M
Delicious bars with a buttery crumb base and topping, stogged full of beautiful black berries and a sour cream filling. The topping is lightly spiced with cardamom and cinnamon.

Ingredients

For the base and crumb topping:
  • 210g of plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
  • 165g of sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 6 ounces of unsalted butter, very cold, cut into cubes (3/4 cup)
  • you will also need 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
For the filling:
  • 2 large free range eggs
  • 225g of sugar (1 cup)
  • 60g of dairy sour cream (1/2 cup)
  • 35g plus 2 TBS plain flour (1/4 cup plus 2 TBS)
  • pinch salt
  • 450g of blackberries (16 ounces or 1 pound)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark . Line an 8 inch square baking pan with some baking paper, leaving an overhang. Spray the baking paper with non-stick spray.
  2. Put the flour, sugar, and salt for the base into a food processor. Blitz for about 30 seconds to combine ingredients. Add the cubed butter an pulse until you have a crumbly mixture with bits the size of small peas. Remove 115g (3/4 cup) of it and set it aside for later. Pour the rest into the prepared baking dish and press into the pan firmly. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn brown. Cool completely.
  3. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, sour cream, flour and salt for the filling until well blended. Stir the cardamom and cinnamon into the reserved crumb mixture. Spread the berries into a single layer over the cooled crust. Spoon the sour cream mixture evenly over top. Sprinkle over the reserved spiced crumb mixture to cover evenly. Bake in the heated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the filling is just beginning to turn golden and is set. Cool completely on a wire rack and then chill prior to serving.
  4. Serve with or without lashings of cream or clotted cream!
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Blackberry Pie Bars 


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13 comments

  1. Nice bars Marie! Look yumm!
    I love blackberries!
    And happy birthday to Todd!
    xo

    xo

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  2. Thanks Gloria! They are really nice bars for sure. I'll give Todd your Happy Birthday wishes!! xxoo

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  3. Well, I know what I shall be doing next Friday to see us through for the weekend!

    Honestly, I'd bake it right now but have to temper myself as we have Chocolate torte, Carrot Cake with adivine white chocolate cream cheese frosting AND blackberry and apple pie in the fridge. So I think I need to hold back right now! (yes, I got a little carried away with the baking)There is only 2 of us! But breakfast is delicious these days!

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  4. I am just about to bake..and would do these had I blackberries.
    I love all your recipes of this genre..ok and of many other genres:)
    Happy Birthday Todd..
    Both of you enjoy the day!

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  5. Hi Marie, I've just found your blog and loving your honest approach to it all. These remind me of the raspberry and almond slices you get in Costa. I've made a version, but I love your crumble topping.

    Think I'll make a batch next week.

    Dave.

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  6. Oh my Shen! It all sounds very loverly!! Especially the carrot cake with the white chocolate cream cheese icing! Scrumptious! I am drooling here. Seriously though when you bake these squares be warned. You really won't be able to leave them alone!

    Ohh, MOnique, you will have to bake then when you DO have some blackberries! Jacques and the girls and boys for that matter will love them. It's a good thing you have them all to help you or you'd eat the whole thing yourself and if you are like me that wouldn't be a good thing! haha

    David, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I do so hope that you like then when you bake them. Oh what am I saying? Of course you will! It's impossible not to like these!

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  7. This looks wonderful, the blackberries are growing very well this year and now I know just want to make with them. My family will love me for this, thanks!!!

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  8. If your family don't love you for this Cheri, there is something wrong with them! lol These are fabulous!!!

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  9. Quick question!

    Seeing as how these seem so deliciously moreish and seeing how I am *supposed* to be trying to lose some weight. I am thinking of sending these in with OH to work, so I don't sit there and eat them all.
    Do you think they'd be ok out of the fridge for a while stored in an airtight container? Or perhaps if I froze them overnight so by the time he got to work they'll still be cold.

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  10. They should be perfectly fine Shen for about 2 days at room temperature. Otherwise, yes, do refrigerate them. I have never frozen them so can't advise on that! Maybe freeze one and see what happens when you thaw it out? xxoo

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  11. I am so happy I made this. We have a ,lot of fresh blackberries - possibly the last of the season and I was looking for something a bit different to do with them.

    This is a delicious slice. It's very easy to make (I love that you use the basic dough in two ways) and uses very basic ingredients that most of us have at home. I took some fresh from the oven in to my elderly neighbour who likes a sweet treat with her afternoon coffee and she was delighted. My husband could not stop picking at it - it's very, very moreish. Loved this one a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so pleased these were enjoyed Marie. I shall miss having blackberries in my back garden on tap over here in Canada. I am amazed that you are still picking them! They have lasted well for you! xoxo

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  12. Thank you so much for doing the conversions on the ingredients for those of us who need it.

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