Recipe of the Week: Cherry Pie Crumb Bars

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted then cooled to room temperature

• 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted then cut in half

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp granulated sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a bowl, combine cherries, cornstarch and lemon juice. Mix until all cherries are coated; set aside. In another bowl, combine cooled butter with 1/2 cup sugar. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the butter-sugar mixture, mix until it resembles crumbs.

Line a nine-inch baking pan with parchment paper and press 3/4 of the crumble into the bottom. Spread the cherry mixture evenly over the crust. Sprinkle remaining crumble over cherry mixture, then sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar on top. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Preparation time: 15 minutes; total time: 45 minutes.

Makes 12 servings, 120- calories each.

- Canadian Food Focus