Cherry Streusel Bars

By ezunich

Ingredients

• Crust
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 16 tbs unsalted butter, cut and chilled
• Cherry Filling
• 2 cups frozen sweet cherries, thawed
• 1 cup cherry preserves
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Streusel
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, chopped
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbs unsalted butter

Preparation

Step 1

Crust Heat oven to 375°. Make foil sling for 13 x 9 pan. Spray foil. Process flour, sugar and salt in processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles wet sand. Transfer 1 1/4 cups dough to medium bowl and set aside. Transfer remaining dough to prepared pan and distribute over bottom of pan. Using bottom of dry measuring cup, firmly press dough into even layer. Bake 16- 19 minutes. Cherry filling. Put frozen cherries, preserves, lemon juice in food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Set aside. Streusel - add oats, almonds and sugar to reserved dough and toss to combine. Add butter and rub mixture until butter is fully incorporated and mixture forms small clumps. Set aside. Transfer filling to pan and spread evenly over crust. Sprinkle streusel evenly over filling. Bake 24-28 minutes, rotating pan halfway. Use foil overhang, lift bars out of pan. Cut into 24 squares.