Name: Blackberry Pie Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 1/2 cups butter (chilled, 3 sticks); 4 eggs; 2 cups granulated white sugar; 1 cup sour cream; 3/4 cup all purpose flour; pinch salt; 2 teaspoons lemon zest; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 lb blackberries (fresh)

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Delicious Blackberry Pie Bars using a buttery shortbread crust, creamy custard filling, with a crumble over the top.

Step by step photos and instructions below!

blackberry pie bars in a baking dish being removed

These Blackberry Pie Bars are fabulous. The shortbread crust is crisp and yummy, a custard filling with lemon zest and blackberries. We then add some of the shortbread crust crumbled on top. Oh my….

I really love blackberry pie, but feel like these bars are a lot easier to cut and serve. Plus, they’re so pretty!

Blackberries are the perfect berry for this – not least because they go on sale for VERY cheap. That said, raspberries and blueberries work just as well!

This recipe doesn’t use pie crust as the base, instead we do double duty with a shortbread type crust. We use most as the base, but then sprinkle the rest over the top.

Fresh blackberries or frozen blackberries?

Either can be used! If using frozen berries, make sure to thaw and drain before using.

Looking for more berry recipes? Try these Blueberry Scones, Cranberry Muffins, Strawberry Eton Mess or Raspberry Sweet Rolls.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

It’s pie, in bar form. What could be better?
Super easy to make.
Budget friendly (if you use in season berries!)

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I have included step by step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.

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Ingredient Notes

The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.

Flour. All purpose flour, that we use in both the crust/topping and the fruit filling.
Sugar. Plain white sugar. Used in both the crust/topping and the blackberry filling.
Salt. This helps balance the sweetness.
Butter. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
Eggs. I use large eggs, at room temperature.
Sour Cream. This is in the filling and makes it super yummy, creamy and custardy. You can use regular or low fat with no major taste difference.
Lemon Zest. Part of how we make these so tasty! Did you know lemon enhances already present flavors? Just like salt, it is a balance.
Vanilla Extract. Vanilla has a similar role to the lemon zest. It stops flavors from being flat or bland. Don’t leave it out!
Blackberries. Or raspberries, blueberries, huckleberries, boysenberries etc.

collage of ingredients to make blackberry pie bars

How to make this recipe

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The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Get prepped

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper, or grease (you choose). Wash your blackberries if you are using fresh ones.

Crust and Topping

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar and salt.

Add the butter and pulse until the butter is crumbly (about a minute)

Reserve 1 1/2 Cups of the crust mixture for the topping in a small or medium bowl.

Press the remaining mixture into the baking dish (distribute evenly).

Bake for 15 minutes – the edges should be JUST starting to brown.

Cool.

collage of process shots showing how to make the base for blackberry pie bars

Make the filling

Whisk the eggs together in a large bowl, and add the sugar, sour cream, flour, salt, zest and vanilla.

Add the blackberries and gently fold in.

Pour the mixture over the crust, then sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the top.

collage of process shots showing how to make the filling for blackberry pie bars

Bake

Bake for 45-50 minutes (until center is not jiggly) and the top is golden brown.

Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Devour.

Kylee’s Notes

If you don’t have a food processor, no problem. You can cut the butter into the flour using two forks, or grab an inexpensive pastry blender tool.

How to store

Store Blackberry Pie Bars covered on the counter for a few days. Hide them from your family.

Substitutions/Additions

Any kind of berry does great in this recipe. Try blueberries and raspberries!

If using frozen berries, make sure to thaw and drain before using.

baked blackberry pie bars in a baking dish

Other recipes you’ll love:

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie. Flaky pie crust filled with a custard-like filling, that will invoke memories of times gone by.
Apple Dumplings. Tart apples wrapped in a flaky biscuit and smothered in a buttery vanilla sauce. Topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar, this is a super easy recipe that delivers on taste!
Blackberry Lemonade (from Yellow Bliss Road). A refreshing summer drink that celebrates the flavors or the season!
Blackberry Upside Down Cake (from Grumpy’s Honeybunch). A delicious vanilla cake baked on top of a sweetened blackberry bottom. When flipped the blackberry bottom becomes the top.

If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on Kylee Cooks, leave a comment and rating – I truly love to hear from you!
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