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
Description
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.
- Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the dry ingredients.
- Cut in with a pastry cutter until it resembles peas.
- In a small dish, whisk together the yolks and 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.
- In a ziploc bag, add the pecans and seal shut.
- Using a mallet, smash the pecans into small pieces.
- 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.
- Cut the butter into the mixture and pinch together until it's completely incorporated.
- Sprinkle over the cherry pie filling and bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
- Allow to chill completely and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Who wouldn’t love a chocolate chip bar loaded with coconut and cherries?!
Cade LOVES these bars!
Ruthie
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)
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much for the feedback Ruthie!
karen
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.
Sweet Basil
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!
Sharon Hill
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!
Sweet Basil
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!
Ashley Shippy
We love Cheesy Hasbrowns! Always a classic 🙂
kita
HELLO CHERRY CRISP BARS! That is looking so so good. I would totally sneak like 3 just for me before sharing ;D
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
Cherry pie is my all time favorite so these bars are literally making me drool as I look at that gooey filling and perfect crumbly top!
Elena
I like Greek pasta salad
Cindy A.
My favorite is blueberry cobbler. Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Katie
Potato Salad is my favorite potluck dish.
David
I grew up in Texas, so brisket was always my favorite thing to have at a barbecue, with a side of potato salad.
erin m.
i love Texas sheet cake!
Kesha
I like to bring baked beans and a delicious corn dip
Marie
I like to bring something lighter as a side my grilled summer vegetable orzo salad!
Marie
I like to bring a grilled summer vegetable orzo salad!
Joey
Pork ribs are my favorite!
Heather S
My favorite bbq dish is bbq salmon…yum!
fabiola@notjustbaked
How cute and yum are these! Baked cherries have the best flavor, I so need to make these for my family.
Sarah
If it is a smaller gathering I like to take the ice cream maker and make a batch of homemade ice cream, it is always a hit and a welcome treat on a hot summer day.
Liz
Who could say no to one of these beauties!! I love making a chocolate sheet cake for a potluck, but these cherry crisps bars would be even better!
Jenna
Snickers cookies on a stick! Everyone loves them!
Ellen
Snickerdoodle blondies!
Anita Sharp
I love to take Chinese Chicken Salad to pot lucks and BBQ’s!
Kimberli Bean
Oh my gosh, these.look.delicious. I can’t wait to make them, I’m a sucker for anything cherry!! My favorite thing is definitely pasta salad, can’t beat a good one!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
Jennifer L.
I love bringing desserts and salads!
Carol
My favorite BBQ and potluck dish are my homemade baked beans with lots of smoked pork.
Kathryn Mader
Cupcakes are always fun to bring to a potluck.
LaTanya
I love potato salad
Donna Y.
Love this recipe. I will be making these soon. Love anything cherry.
Andrea D.
I love making some kind of baked beans with BBQ. I miss the beans down in Texas we use to have with brisket and sausage. Thanks for the chance to enter.
Susan Christy
I like southwest potato salad but I usually take desserts to potluck and a recent good one I made was s’mores pie.
Bethany
So after you add the yolk and extract is that when you press it into your 9×13 in pan?? Did I miss something?
Mary
My favorite bbq dish is hot dogs and favorite potluck dish is potato salad!
Rebecca
I love a good mac and cheese or deviled eggs at a potluck!
Maryann Smith
I like to bring peanut butter pie.
Jenny Flake
These look so great! Love that pretty cherry center!!
Juli V
I love my sister-in-law’s recipe for Amish Macaroni Salad. It’s amazing!
Jacqui
buffalo chicken dip!
Bianca Norman
My favorite BBQ is from a local place here in NC 🙂
Christy H
Cheesy corn made in the crock pot! Always a big hit!
Leslee
My special chicken salad
Catherine Hammersley
Picnic Macaroni Salad
Kristen D
Guacamole is my favorite item to bring!
Bryn broussard
I love to make and bring slab pies. I love that I can make several varieties with minimal effort and fantastic results
Lindsay
My favorite bbq recipe is kicked up potato salad with Siracha and Tony’s seasoning in it!!!
Rachel J
My favorite bbq potluck dish is bluberry crumb bars! These are a great new addition to try!