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Home » Dessert » Bars and Brownies » Red, White and Blue Bars

Red, White and Blue Bars

By Valerie · July 1, 2012 · Updated May 7, 2020 19 Comments

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These layered Red, White and Blue Bars with fresh blueberries and raspberries and a sweet crumb topping are a fun and festive dessert for the Fourth of July!

A slice of the Red White and Blue Bar served on a red and blue napkin.

I love all the fun, festive recipes that have been swirling around for the Fourth of July. So much, in fact, that I felt inclined to add something to the pot. These layered bars have all the elements that make up the perfect Fourth of July dessert. A white base layered with a pie like filling of fresh blueberries and raspberries, and a sweet crumb topping mixed with sliced almonds. Are you feeling the red, white, and blue theme here?

All the required ingredients to make Red White and Blue Bars arranged on a counter top.

The grocery list – flour, sugar, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, fresh blueberries, fresh raspberries, butter, cream cheese, an egg, sliced almonds, and a lemon.

A bowl with ingredients about to be mixed by a hand mixer.

Let’s start with the white layer. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup of the sugar sugar, the baking powder, and salt. Add the softened butter and cream cheese, in cubes, and combine with a hand mixer.

The ingredients have become a coarse crumb consistency after the mixing.

Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

A measuring cup transfer the crumbly mixture into another bowl.

Now, go grab a small mixing bowl and transfer 1 heaping cup full of the crumbly mixture to the small bowl. Set this aside for later.

An egg is added to the mixed ingredients.

Add 1 egg to the mixture in the large bowl.

The mixed ingredients are about to be spooned into a greased glass pan.

Beat with a hand mixer until it begins to hold together.

Transfer the mixture to a 13″ x 9″ pan that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Use your hands to pat the crust down into the pan. Place it in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. I didn’t take a picture of this step and I apologize profusely.

Remove the crust from the oven when it is slightly golden brown and let it cool.

A colander filled with berries, sitting in a kitchen sink.

While you are waiting, give the berries a rinse and allow them to drain well.

Sliced almonds and the crumb mixture are combined in a large bowl.

Combine the sliced almonds with the reserved flour crumb mixture.

A lemon being juiced over a bowl of berries.

Now we move on to the red and blue part of the recipe. After the crust has cooled for about 15 minutes, transfer the rinsed and drained berries to a mixing bowl and squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon in.

Sugar and cornstarch poured on top of the berries.

Add in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Toss lightly to mix.

The crumb mixture being sprinkled on top of the Red White and Blue bars.

Transfer the berry mixture to the partially cooled crust and spread out to cover evenly. Sprinkle the reserved crumb/almond mixture evenly over the top. Place the whole shebang back in the oven for another 20-25 minutes.

The finished Red White and Blue Bars.

It’s time to pull it out of the oven when the crumb mixture is just slightly golden brown.

Now the hard part, let it cool for at least 2 hours before slicing into bars and serving.

A slice of the Red White and Blue Bars sitting on colored napkins.

The bars keep very well either in the fridge or out. Just be sure to place them in an airtight container or cover well with plastic wrap.

A slice of the Red White and Blue Bars sitting on colored napkins with a small american flag in the background.

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you all get to enjoy the day with your loved ones, lots of delicious food, something red, white, and blue, and a sparkler or two.

A piece of cake sitting on top of a wooden table

Red, White and Blue Bars

These layered Red, White and Blue Bars with fresh blueberries and raspberries and a sweet crumb topping are a fun and festive dessert for the Fourth of July!
0 from 0 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 20 bars
Calories: 158kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks butter softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups fresh blueberries rinsed and drained
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13- x 9-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut the butter and cream cheese into 1″ pieces and drop into the flour mixture. Using a hand mixer on low speed, blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer 1 cup of the mixture to a smaller bowl and set aside. Add the egg to the remaining flour mixture in the large bowl and mix on low speed until the dough begins to hold together.
  • Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish. Using your hands, press the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for about 15 or 20 minutes.
  • Add the sliced almonds to the reserved flour/crumb mixture.
  • In a mixing bowl combine the blueberries and raspberries with the juice from 1/2 a lemon. Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch. Toss lightly to combine. Spoon the berry mixture over the slightly cooled crust. Sprinkle the reserved flour/almond mixture evenly over the top.
  • Bake another 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely in the pan and then cut into bars.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Latest Comments
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  1. Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies says

    July 10, 2012 at 8:22 am

    Mmmm… fresh berries! Yum!! This looks wonderful!

    Reply
  2. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    July 10, 2012 at 8:01 am

    These look absolutely delicious – I love all the wonderful fruit in them, and it’s great that they fit the red, white and blue theme too!

    Reply
  3. trina says

    July 8, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    oh yeah, sooo trying these. . . .. happy 4th Val!

    Reply
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