STRAWBERRY CRUMB BARS
Ingredients
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup very cold butter, (8 Tablespoons or 1 stick of butter)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place parchment paper on the bottom of the 8×8 pan that hangs over the side of the pan. (This is to make it easier to remove the Strawberry Crumb Bars after cooking.)
In a medium bowl, stir together 1/2 cup white sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.
Using a fork or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture. (VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure the butter is very cold.) Work with the dough until the pieces are very small. Dough will be crumbly. You can also pulse in a food processor to until you get pea sized crumbs.
In a separate measuring cup or small bowl, beat an egg with a fork. Add the egg and vanilla to the flour mixture, and combine until you have a crumbly mixture.
Pat half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together 1/3 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the strawberries.
Spoon the strawberry mixture evenly over the bottom crust.
Crumble the remaining dough over the strawberry filling layer.
Bake in a preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly golden brown. (My oven runs hot and baked in about 38 minutes.)
Cool completely before cutting into squares. I recommend refrigerating until ready to serve.