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We love pie and crisps so when summer hit and everyone was posting their favorite backyard bbq desserts we had to do a cherry crisp bars mashup recipe.
What is the Difference Between a Crisp and a Cobbler?
Cobblers get their name because the dollops of batter or biscuit dough are dropped on top of a bed of fruit, puffing up to look like cobblestone streets.
A crisp is a baked fresh fruit dessert, with streusel topping that typically includes oats.
The oats will crisp up during baking, thus, making a Crisp topping.
We’ve worked with Fisher Nuts for a few years now and we’ve made quite a variety of dishes from gluten free strawberry shortcake pancakes, to pumpkin pasta to breakfast cookies. However, we’ve never done anything with cherries and since it’s such a classic flavor for summer we wanted to find a recipe that let a traditional fruit shine.
These bars use pecans from Fisher Nuts as a way to bring a crunch, warm flavor and they are preservative free. That’s important for us. We are all about balance in our family so we definitely enjoy treats and a few processed things, however if it’s something like a simple nut I don’t see why it can’t be just the nut without the extras. That’s why when we found Fisher we decided to stick with them for a product that’s only what it says it is, nuts.
The bars start out with a simple sweet tart crust that comes together in no time. We like to add all of the dry ingredients and then cut the butter in with a pastry cutter, however if you don’t have one, and you should, just use a fork or your hands. It goes perfectly with cherries and it’s easier than a pie crust. Plus, it holds up really well to the weight of the cherries and crisp oat topping.
The cherries are just your basic cherry pie filling, see we do use shortcuts in our house. I’m going to create a homemade version though, it just makes me feel better to create it myself so stay tuned.
The topping for the cherry crisp bars is an adapted version of Mom’s crisp topping with those crunchy pecans thrown in there. It’s often a little ingredient that makes an entire recipe amazing. Like honey in our golden potato soup, or nutmeg in a white sauce.
Can You Freeze Cherry Crisp?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing it.
Moreover, the topping might get soggy when thawed, which is not desired.
Therefore, freezing is not a good idea.
Cherry Crisp Bars Mashup
Cherry Crisp Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 3/4 Cups Flour
- 1/2 Cup Sugar, plus 2 Tablespoons
- 3/4 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 10 Tablespoons Butter, unsalted, chilled
- 2 Large Egg Yolks, whisked slightly
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
For the Filling
- 5 Cups Cherry Pie Filling
For the Topping
- 1/2 Cup Flour
- 1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
- 1/4 Cup Fisher Nuts Pecan Halves
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- Pinch Salt
- 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- 6 Tablespoons Butter, chilled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Prepare a 9x13" baking dish with parchment paper or spray lightly with a nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, prepare the tart crust.
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, whisk to combine.1 3/4 Cups Flour, 1/2 Cup Sugar, 3/4 teaspoons Baking Powder, 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the dry ingredients.10 Tablespoons Butter
- Cut in with a pastry cutter until it resembles peas.
- In a small dish, whisk together the yolks and almond extract.2 Large Egg Yolks, 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
- Add to the flour mixture and finish mixing with a rubber spatula until the dough just comes together. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the 9x13" pan.
- Top with the cherry pie filling.5 Cups Cherry Pie Filling
- In a ziploc bag, add the pecans and seal shut.
- Using a mallet, smash the pecans into small pieces.1/4 Cup Fisher Nuts Pecan Halves
- In a separate both, add the flour and oats and then add the crushed pecans, toss in the cinnamon, salt and brown sugar, mixing to combine.1/2 Cup Flour, 1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats, 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon, Pinch Salt, 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- Cut the butter into the mixture and pinch together until it's completely incorporated.6 Tablespoons Butter
- Sprinkle over the cherry pie filling and bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
- Allow to chill completely and serve.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Who wouldn’t love a chocolate chip bar loaded with coconut and cherries?!
Cade LOVES these bars!
Made this last night for a NYE dessert and it was really a hit!! It made my house smell Devine! I will make again.( I might just cut the sugar a big but def a keeper)
Yay! Thank you so much for the feedback Ruthie!
Wow, talk about typos and difficult to follow directions….. “8. Add to the flour mixture and finishing mixing”, that doesn’t seem correct. Also the next step after mixing is, 9. Top with the cherry mixture.
Would that be after putting the crust in the pan and patting it down? Not sure there. And 12. Add to the flour mixture. What flour mixture? There is nothing about combing the oats and flour together. Maybe some proofreading would help.
Hi Karen! So sorry for the confusion. I have added to the instructions to help them be more clear. Thank you for the letting us know!
I have fresh picked cherries, I’d love to make a cherry crisp bar with fresh cherries, not canned. What is your suggestion for that please.
Thank you!
Hi Sharon! You will want to make cherry pie filling with your cherries. Here is a great recipe for doing that: https://www.mybakingaddiction.com/homemade-cherry-pie-filling-recipe/
Then you can follow the steps in this recipe to make the bars. Enjoy!
We love Cheesy Hasbrowns! Always a classic 🙂
HELLO CHERRY CRISP BARS! That is looking so so good. I would totally sneak like 3 just for me before sharing ;D