Blackberry Crumb Bars!!

I made these bars after my husband came home with a bunch of fresh berries. He loves blackberries because they are a little sweet and yet very tart. This bar recipe is perfect because the crust is sweet and buttery and holds up the blackberries very nicely. Because of the short baking time, the blackberries hold their shape and you bite into tangy berries in each bite. The tart juices mix with the buttery crust and caramel-y crumb topping for a truly fabulous summer treat! I found this recipe on the Martha Stewart website. ~ Janet

Blackberry Crumb Bars:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, and 1/2 cup (1 stick), room temperature, plus more for pan

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan

½ cup packed light-brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup confectioners' sugar

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 containers (5 ounces each) blackberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter and flour paper, tapping out excess.
2. Make topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; add 1 cup flour, and mix with a fork until large moist crumbs form. Refrigerate topping until ready to use.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat room-temperature butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture. Spread batter evenly in pan; sprinkle with blackberries, then chilled topping.
4. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares

Martha said, "Sprinkle blackberries on top." The OCD in me lined them up! :) 

note: While you prepare the cake, refrigerate the crumb topping. This will help give it a nubbly texture once baked. To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.