Delicious Vegan Berry Crumble Bars: The Ultimate Summer Dessert & Snack
Discover how to make the best of summer berries with these incredibly easy, jammy, oaty, and utterly satisfying vegan crumble bars. Perfect for a delightful snack or a comforting dessert, these plant-based treats are a must-try for any berry lover.
As the vibrant days of summer gently begin to fade, there’s no better way to capture the season’s essence than by indulging in the bounty of its luscious berries. These homemade vegan berry crumble bars are an absolutely irresistible creation, transforming a simple selection of fresh berries into a truly spectacular treat. Whether you’re seeking a delightful dessert to share or a satisfying snack for yourself, these plant-based bars hit all the right notes, bringing joy with every single bite.
They offer a perfect blend of textures and flavors – a buttery, chewy oat base, a sweet and slightly tart berry filling, and a wonderfully crumbly topping. What makes these bars truly special is their ability to harness the natural sweetness and vibrant acidity of seasonal fruits. They are not just a dessert; they are a celebration of summer’s finest produce, crafted into a convenient, handheld form that’s ideal for any occasion. These crumble bars are a fantastic way to extend the pleasure of berry season, making them a staple in your summer baking repertoire.
The Perfect Balance: Texture and Flavor in Every Bite
These delightful vegan berry crumble bars are a masterpiece of culinary engineering, featuring a multi-layered experience. At their heart is a wonderfully chewy and oaty biscuit base, providing a robust foundation. This comforting base is generously filled with a vibrant medley of fresh mixed berries and a luscious raspberry jam, creating a burst of fruity flavor. Capping off this delicious creation is a golden, crunchy topping made from more of the same oat cookie crumbs, ensuring a delightful contrast in texture.
One of the most appealing aspects of this recipe is its ingenious simplicity: the base and the crumbly topping are crafted from the exact same mixture. This brilliant design means less prep work and fewer dishes, making the baking process smoother and more enjoyable. You won’t need to prepare separate components, streamlining your efforts while delivering consistently delicious results. The berries, primarily sweetened by the jam, retain their natural tartness, which beautifully complements the rich, buttery texture of the crumble. This delicate balance of sweet and sharp flavors is what truly elevates these bars, creating a taste profile that is both complex and incredibly satisfying.
Customizing Your Berry Crumble Bars: Endless Possibilities
The beauty of these easy vegan berry crumble bars lies in their versatility. You have complete freedom to vary the type of berries you use, adapting the recipe to suit your preferences or whatever is freshest and most abundant at your local market. While I often opt for a classic combination of raspberries, juicy blackberries, and sweet blueberries, the possibilities are truly endless. Imagine the delightful taste of fresh strawberries, offering a sweet and aromatic twist, or perhaps the rich, deep flavor of pitted cherries for a more indulgent bar. Each berry brings its unique profile, allowing you to create a personalized treat every time.
Similarly, the choice of jam is entirely yours, inviting you to experiment with different flavor combinations. I’ve found that a naturally sweetened raspberry jam, such as St Dalfour, works wonders, enhancing the raspberry notes in the fresh fruit. However, don’t hesitate to use your favorite jam – whether it’s strawberry, apricot, or a mixed berry blend – to create a unique and equally delicious filling. This adaptability ensures that these crumble bars can be a year-round delight, not just confined to summer, simply by adjusting your fruit and jam selections. The key is to embrace the creative freedom this recipe offers, making it truly your own.
Storage Tips for Maximum Freshness
For the absolute best experience, these homemade vegan crumble bars are truly exceptional when enjoyed on the very day they are made. The crust is at its crispiest, the filling is perfectly set, and the flavors are at their peak. However, if you find yourself with leftovers (which is a rare occurrence!), rest assured that they will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for a few days. Simply store them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and prevent them from drying out. This ensures that you can enjoy a delicious berry treat whenever a craving strikes, making them perfect for meal prepping or as a make-ahead dessert.
How To Make These Irresistible Berry Crumble Bars: A Step-by-Step Guide
(For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located below.)
*To achieve the most outstanding results with this recipe, it is crucial to adhere closely to the instructions. As is always recommended in baking, I strongly advise using gram measurements with a digital kitchen scale rather than relying on cup conversions. Cup measurements are inherently less precise, and I cannot guarantee optimal outcomes if you choose to use them.*
Crafting the Perfect Crumble Base and Topping
Begin your baking journey by combining the dry ingredients for your crumble: oats, all-purpose flour, a touch of baking powder, light brown soft sugar, and a hint of cinnamon. These ingredients will form the foundation of your delicious bars. Once thoroughly mixed, introduce your chosen fat – either vegan spread or coconut oil – ensuring it’s cubed and cold. Gently rub the fat into the dry mixture using your fingertips. This process, known as “rubbing in,” is essential for creating that signature crumbly texture. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, with no large pieces of fat remaining. This technique ensures a tender, rich, and crumbly result.
Next, take approximately two-thirds of this beautifully prepared crumble mixture and press it firmly into your prepped square baking tin. It’s vital to pack it down very tightly and evenly across the bottom. A firm base is key to preventing your bars from falling apart and providing a sturdy foundation for the fruit filling. Once pressed, this base goes into the oven to bake until it turns a lovely golden-brown around the edges. This pre-baking step is crucial for achieving that delightful chewy texture in the base and prevents it from becoming soggy once the juicy filling is added.
Preparing the Vibrant Berry Filling
While your base is pre-baking, turn your attention to the luscious filling. In a large bowl, whisk together cornflour (or cornstarch) with fresh lemon juice to create a smooth paste. The cornflour acts as a thickening agent, ensuring your berry filling is beautifully jammy and doesn’t run excessively once baked. The lemon juice adds a crucial bright note, enhancing the natural flavors of the berries and providing a lovely contrast to the sweetness of the jam. To this paste, stir in your chosen raspberry jam, blending it thoroughly until smooth. Finally, gently fold in your fresh, mixed berries. Be careful not to mash them, as you want to preserve their individual shape and texture. This filling, vibrant in color and bursting with natural goodness, will be the star of your crumble bars.
Assembling and Baking Your Crumble Bars
Once the base is lightly golden, carefully spread the prepared berry filling evenly over the top, making sure it reaches all edges. Then, generously scatter the remaining crumble mixture over the berry layer. This top crumble will bake into a beautiful, golden, and crunchy crust, providing that perfect textural contrast. Place the tin back into the oven and bake until the top is gloriously golden-brown and you can see the fruit filling bubbling invitingly around the edges. This bubbling indicates that the filling is hot and properly set. The aroma filling your kitchen will be utterly divine, a true sign of the deliciousness to come.
Allowing the bars to cool completely in the tin is a critical step; patience is key here! As they cool, the filling will set further, and the bars will become firm enough to handle without crumbling. Once completely cool, use the baking parchment to carefully lift the entire slab out of the tin. Now comes the satisfying part: cutting them into neat squares. Serve them as is, or with a dollop of vegan whipped cream or a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat. Any leftovers, stored in the fridge, will still be a delightful snack for the next few days.
Why Choose Vegan Berry Crumble Bars?
Opting for vegan berry crumble bars isn’t just a delicious choice; it’s a mindful one, too. These bars are entirely plant-based, making them suitable for those following a vegan diet or anyone looking to reduce their dairy and egg consumption. By using vegan butter or coconut oil and plant-based ingredients, we create a treat that is just as rich, satisfying, and flavorful as its traditional counterpart, if not more so. They’re naturally dairy-free and eggless, opening up a world of delicious possibilities for individuals with allergies or dietary restrictions.
Beyond dietary considerations, these bars celebrate wholesome ingredients. Oats provide fiber and a hearty texture, while fresh berries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. They offer a healthier alternative to many store-bought desserts, allowing you to control the sugar content and ensure the use of quality, natural ingredients. Whether you’re plant-curious or a seasoned vegan, these berry crumble bars prove that ethical eating can be utterly indulgent.
Essential Tips for Perfect Vegan Crumble Bars Every Time
- Use Cold Fat: Ensure your vegan butter or coconut oil is thoroughly chilled and cubed before you rub it into the dry ingredients. This helps create pockets of fat that melt during baking, resulting in a perfectly crumbly texture.
- Don’t Overmix the Crumble: Once the fat is incorporated and the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, stop mixing. Overworking the dough can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tough rather than tender base and topping.
- Press the Base Firmly: When pressing the bottom layer into the tin, apply firm, even pressure. This prevents the base from falling apart when you cut the bars later.
- Cool Completely: This is arguably the most important tip! Allow the bars to cool entirely in the tin before attempting to lift or cut them. The filling needs time to set, and the bars will firm up considerably, making them much easier to handle and ensuring clean slices.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste your jam and berries before mixing. If your berries are particularly tart or your jam is less sweet, you can add a tablespoon or two of granulated sugar to the berry filling mixture to balance the flavors.
- Use Fresh Berries: While frozen berries can work, fresh berries generally yield a better texture and prevent excess moisture in the filling. If using frozen, do not thaw them; mix them into the filling while frozen and be aware that baking time might be slightly longer.
More Berry Recipes to Explore:
- Vegan vanilla cake with berries and jam
- Vegan blueberry pie with coconut oil crust
- Vegan ginger bundt cake with lime glaze and macerated strawberries
- Vegan chocolate raspberry scones
- Vegan lemon blueberry rolls
If you tried this recipe, we’d love to see your creations! Why not tag @domestic_gothess on Instagram and hashtag it #domesticgothess to share your delicious results?
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Berry Crumble Bars (Vegan)
Ingredients
Crumble:
- 150 g (1 ⅔ cups) rolled porridge oats
- 180 g (1 ½ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 130 g (¾ cup) light brown soft sugar
- ⅓ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 175 g (⅔ cup) vegan butter or coconut oil cubed
Filling:
- 2 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 150 g (5.3 oz) raspberry jam
- 400 g (14oz) mixed fresh berries
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5. Grease a 20cm/8in square tin and line with baking parchment.
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Mix together the oats, flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
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Add the vegan butter or coconut oil and rub in using your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
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Tip about two thirds of the mixture into the prepared tin. Spread it out level and pack it down very firmly.
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Bake for about 15 minutes until golden around the edges.
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To make the filling, mix the cornflour and lemon juice together in a large bowl to make a paste. Stir in the jam followed by the berries.
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Tip the filling over the base and spread level.
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Scatter over the remaining crumble mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crumble is golden and the filling is bubbling.
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Leave to cool in the tin then carefully lift it out using the baking parchment, cut into squares and serve.
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Store any leftovers in the fridge.
