Graham Crumble Cherry Bars - An unusual but delicious graham cracker crumb crumble cookie bar with a filling of sweet cherry compote.
Course
Cookies
Prep Time20minutes
Cook Time45minutes
Total Time1hour5minutes
Servings3dozen
AuthorBarry C. Parsons
Ingredients
For the Cherry Compote Filling
3/4cupsugar
3 1/2cupspittedquarter cut cherries
3rounded teaspoons of corn starch dissolved in an ounce or two of water
For the Graham Crumble
2tspbaking powder
1 2/3cupsgraham cracker crumbsdigestive biscuit crumbs work well too
2cupsflour
1cupbrown sugar
1 ½cupsbuttercut in small cubes.
Instructions
To prepare the Cherry Compote Filling
In a small saucepan combine the 3/4 cup sugar wight he cherries.
Simmer very slowly for about 20 minutes or until the juice from the cherries is reduced by half. Thicken the compote by stirring in a cornstarch slurry made from dissolving 3 rounded teaspoons of corn starch in an ounce or so of water. Continue to cook for one minute stirring constantly before removing from the heat and cooling almost to room temperature.
To prepare the Graham Crumble
In a large bowl toss together the baking powder, graham crumbs, flour and brown sugar.
Using your hands, rub the butter thoroughly through the dry ingredients.
When the butter is fully incorporated press half of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased and parchment lined 9x13 inch pan.
Spread the cherry compote evenly over the base layer.
Press the rest of the crumble mixture together in handfuls so that it holds together and break off chunks of crumble all over the top of the prepared cherry filling.
Press down very lightly and bake for about 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees or until the top is golden brown.
Cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares or bars. This is a freezer friendly cookie bar recipe too.