BlueberrY crumb bars

Hi, Everyone! I’m sharing one of my favorite summer recipes with you today! These Blueberry Crumb Bars are one of my favorite things to bake in the summertime! The sweet, buttery, almost shortbread-like crust covered with a thick layer or tart, gooey blueberries and sprinkled with more sweet, delicious clusters of dough makes these seriously addictive! You could definitely use different berries if you prefer something other than blueberries, and the bars would still be just as delicious! I hope you love these just as much as I do!

DOUGH

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter

1 egg

FILLING

2 cups (1 pint) fresh blueberries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp cornstarch

1 1/2 tbs lemon juice

1. First, prepare your blueberry filling. In a small bowl, gently toss together the fresh blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch. Set aside, and preheat your oven to 375 deg F, and grease your baking pan (I used an 8×8 inch baking pan).

2. In your electric mixer bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, butter and egg, and mix until the dough is moist but very crumbly. Divide the dough in half, and press one half into your prepared pan so you have an even layer of “crust”.

3. Next, pour the blueberry filling mixture over the dough pressed into the pan. Take the rest of the crumbly dough and sprinkle it over the blueberries. Bake for 35 – 45 minutes, or until the juices are bubbling and the dough has browned a little bit (watch the bars carefully towards the end of the baking time so they don’t brown too much and don’t dry out). Let cool completely before cutting and eating!

Hi Everyone! I hope your week is going well so far! It feels like we’ve pretty much gone from winter to summer here in Maryland in the last week or so, I went from wearing a jacket right to wearing shorts… as much as I dislike the heat and the humidity, it feels so good to see the sun again and soak in all that Vitamin D! I wanted to share a quick and easy bread recipe with you today. This Blueberry Streusel Muffin Bread recipe was originally for blueberry muffins, but I adjusted it slightly and turned it into a loaf that’s moist and not overly sweet, is filled with juicy blueberries and topped with a sweet streusel topping!

BREAD

2 1/3 cups plus 1 tbs all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup canola oil

1 egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

STRE– USEL TOPPING

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1. Preheat your oven to 375 deg F and grease a standard size loaf pan. In your electric mixer bowl, mix together the sugar (I reduced the amount to a 1/3 cup, but use at least 1/2 cup for a sweeter bread, or more if you prefer extra sweetness!) and canola oil. Add in the egg, milk and vanilla extract and mix until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. Sift in the flour, baking powder (I reduced the amount from 4 tsp in the muffin recipe to 3 tsp here) and salt, and mix until you have a smooth batter without any lumps. In a small bowl, add about a tablespoon of flour to the blueberries just to coat them, then gently fold them into the batter using a spatula.

2. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top (you want the batter to fill about 2/3 of the loaf pan so it doesn’t overflow as you bake the loaf). In a small bowl, mix together the streusel topping ingredients until you have a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle it over the batter evenly. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. (I cover my bread with foil after about 20 or 30 minutes to prevent the streusel topping from burning.) Let cool before slicing and eating.

Hi, Everyone! I hope your week is going well so far and that you are enjoying the last few weeks of the summer. I am so ready for the fall to be here, I can’t wait for the cooler temperatures and all the fun things that the season brings with it! And these Apple Crumb Bars, which have all the characteristic flavors of fall are my way of telling it to hurry up! These bars are incredibly good; they have a sweet, buttery crust that’s topped with a layer of apples and finished off with a sprinkling of a crunchy walnut topping and a sweet sugary glaze! They are absolutely delicious, and are the perfect way to welcome the new season in just a couple short weeks, or to enjoy now!

(Adapted from The Smitten Kitchen)
*Makes 12*

YOU WILL NEED
DOUGH
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (4oz) unsalted butter
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

FILLING
4 medium sized apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tbs fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbs all-purpose flour

GLAZE
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tbs milk

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DIRECTIONS

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to stop by and wish you all a great weekend, and to share some of my favorite summer dessert recipes with you! I love baking in the summer because of all the great fresh fruit that’s available, it makes such a difference! The ripe, juicy berries and fresh, fragrant plums, peaches and apricots… they add so much flavor (and vitamins, I like to think!). It’s such a great time to bake and make the most of the fresh ingredients at this time of year. The only problem I ever have is that at this time of the year the kitchen can get VERY hot with both of the ovens and the hob on. Even with the doors and windows open, baking can be a sweaty ordeal. If you have the same problem, try WireNut Home Services or someone similar to have air conditioning installed in your kitchen. Having an icy breeze blow over you as you stand over a hot oven is a welcome relief, and it can help you to enjoy the experience. Sometimes getting too hot in the kitchen can be overwhelming, making you can lose your appetite. Instead, it’s better to be cool and breathe in all of the delicious smells, helping every kitchen creation become an enjoyable one.

I’ve been baking for a good while now (longer than I care to admit!), so I have a good range of equipment at my disposal. Summer baking is a little different to winter baking, so you might need a few new things. Don’t forget you can always add to your baking collection from websites such as PromoCodeWatch.com to get discounts on your baking equipment! I hope you enjoy these recipes I’m sharing with you, and that you have fun baking for your friends and family this summer! But first, how cute are these mugs that my mom got me from Whittard?! Pretty much a baker’s life motto and some solid good life advice!

Ok, now let’s eat cake!

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These Blueberry Crumb Bars (Left: recipe HERE) are one of my summer favorites! They are a great way to use fresh blueberries, or any other summer fruit actually! The sweet crumb topping really makes these, I can’t wait to make another pan of these soon! Or if you prefer using something other than blueberries, you can make these Apple Crumb Bars (Right: recipe HERE) which are also really tasty! The tart apples, the crunchy walnuts, the buttery topping and the sweet glaze…. oh so good!

For another berry, strawberry, recipe, try this Strawberry Layer Cake (Right: recipe HERE)! I love love love layer cakes like this because they look impressive, yet are one of THE easiest desserts to throw together! All you need is three things: cake, whipped cream and fruit! I know these Sour Cream Pancakes with Blueberries (Left: recipe HERE) are technically breakfast, but they are so good they might as well be dessert for breakfast! As far as I’m concerned, sour cream makes everything better, including these pancakes! And the fresh juicy berries make this a great summer breakfast!

If you love fruit crisps, this Plum Oatmeal Crisp (Left: recipe HERE) is a great one to try! I love Italian plums, and they work so well here! The tart, juicy filling is so good paired with the crunchy oatmeal topping! For a similar recipe, try this Summery Peach Cobbler (Right: recipe HERE) which is a great way to use fresh peaches!

To cool down on a hot day, try this Strawberry & Mint Flavored Water (Left: recipe HERE) which is so refreshing! And if that doesn’t cool you down, these Homemade Ice-Cream Sandwiches (Right: recipe HERE) definitely will! I LOVE making these, because what could be better than ice-cream sandwiched in between two homemade chocolate chip cookies, coated in chopped nuts and candy bars! YUM!

And lastly, here are some s’mores inspired summer desserts! Oven Baked Banana Boats (Left: recipe HERE) that can either be made at home in your oven, or outside on your campfire! The best part is, you can stuff them with any delicious treats you can think of, wrap them up in some foil, and a couple of minutes later, you have the most delicious ooey-gooey summer treat to enjoy! Or try these Summery S’mores Treats (Right: recipe HERE) which are super quick and easy to make, and great to share with friends!

I hope this has given you some summer baking inspiration, and that you are all enjoying your summer so far! If you are cooking with fire, you might to keep a fire extinguisher on hand. Campfires can sometimes get out of hand and you might want to read on here about how to handle an out of control fire. I’ll see you again soon with some more recipes and ideas! Until then, have a great weekend!