Description
Blackberry Pistachio Dream Bars are a delightful homemade treat featuring a buttery pre-baked crust, a luscious blackberry filling, and a crunchy pistachio topping. Perfectly balanced with fresh blackberries and the nutty flavor of pistachios, these bars combine textures and tastes for an irresistible dessert experience.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (cold and cubed)
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 large Egg Yolk (do not use the whole egg)
- 2-4 tablespoons Ice Water (use cold water)
Filling
- 2 cups Fresh Blackberries (or raspberries/blueberries)
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar (adjust as necessary)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (fresh juice is best)
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
Topping
- 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (to match amount for topping; implied from recipe balance)
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (cold and cubed)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Pistachios (shelled and unsalted) (or other nuts)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and cold ice water, mixing just until a dough forms. Press the dough evenly into a greased baking pan. Pre-bake the crust for 15-20 minutes or until it turns golden brown.
- Make the filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the fresh blackberries and granulated sugar. Cook until the berries release their juices, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in fresh lemon juice and cornstarch, then continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Prepare the topping: In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, baking powder, and flour. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, stirring until combined. Gently fold in the shelled pistachios.
- Assemble and bake: Remove the pre-baked crust from the oven and pour the cooled blackberry filling evenly over it. Layer the pistachio topping on top, pressing down lightly to adhere. Bake the assembled bars at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars for serving. This ensures clean slices and that the filling sets properly.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend.
- You can use raspberries or blueberries instead of blackberries if preferred.
- Adjust the sugar in the filling according to the sweetness of your berries.
- Make sure the butter is cold for the crust and topping to create a flaky texture.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent the filling from oozing out.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American