Brown Butter Cherry Bars

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This is one of my favourite times of year.




 One, because it's Ramadan, of course and second, because cherries are in season. They are one of my all-time best loved fruits, but I've never tried baking with them. Mainly due to the fact that they don't last long in this house since we eat them fresh.

But as soon as I had baked these Brown Butter Cherry Bars - I was converted. They hadn't even cooled completely in the tin before people were already slicing into them, they were that good. A homemade pastry crust topped with fresh cherries baked in a smooth, sweet, buttery batter.
It's an easy and simple recipe using things I'm sure you already have at home, so you have no excuse. Give them a go!

Cherries, previously: Berry and Cherry Cake Crumble

Ingredients Needed Are:

1. Plain Flour
2. Butter
3. Sugar
4. Vanilla
5. Salt
6. Eggs
7. Fresh Cherries

Bismillah, let's begin!

Preheat the oven to 190C or Gas Mark 5.

First, make the base. Melt 115 grams Unsalted Butter, and then add in 85 grams of Sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla.

Mix well.

Add in 190 grams of Plain Flour along with a Pinch of Salt.

{Note: If you are using gluten-free plain flour instead of normal, the batter will appear wetter than the one in the pictures. This is because the gf flour is thinner. I like to add an extra 20g of gf flour to balance things out!}

Stir well until mixed.

Grease and line a square tin with greaseproof paper, and pop in the dough.

Press down with your fingertips, and then bake in the oven for 18 minutes.


Once baked, allow to cool completely.



Next, the cherries. Take 250 grams of Fresh Cherries.


Slice the cherries in half and remove the stones from the middle - messy work, but so worth it in the end.

{Note: If you are using a cherry pitter to remove the stones, feel free to leave the cherries whole.}

Next, to make the batter. Place 115 grams of Unsalted Butter into a small saucepan. Let it melt slowly.

Once it has melted completely ..


.. keep it on a medium heat ..


.. stirring often ..


.. until it turns a deep, nutty brown. You should be able to smell the beautiful scent of browning butter. Pour into a bowl, and allow to cool slightly.

Into a bowl, crack in 2 Large Eggs, and put in 113 grams of Sugar.

Whisk well until combined.

Then, add 56 grams of Plain Flour, a Pinch of Salt and 1 teaspoon Vanilla.

Give it another good whisk.



Once whisked ..


.. slowly whisk in the browned butter.

Your batter is ready!

Next, arrange the cherry halves onto the cooled base. You don't have to be as neat as I was - just tumble them on and make sure that they're evenly spread out. And, it's fine if they're cut side up too.

And, then carefully pour over the batter.

Bake at 190C or Gas Mark 5 for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Allow to cool completely.

Before slicing, and serving!

A real change from the usual cakes and biscuit bars.

I really hope you give these cherry bars a go, you won't regret it!

Full Written Recipe:

Fresh Cherry Bars

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen 

Ingredients – makes about 16 bars

For the Base

115 grams Unsalted Butter

85 grams Sugar

½ teaspoon Vanilla

190 grams Plain Flour

Pinch of Salt

For the Filling

250 grams Fresh Cherries

115 grams Unsalted Butter

2 Large Eggs

113 grams Sugar

56 grams Plain Flour

Pinch of Salt

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Method

Preheat oven to 190 degrees or Gas Mark 5.

For the base, melt the butter. Whisk in the sugar and vanilla. Add the flour and salt, and mix in.

Grease and line a square tin, and put in the mixture. Press in with your fingertips, and bake in the oven for 18 minutes.

Allow to cool completely.

For the filling, slice the cherries in half and remove the stones.

Then, slowly melt the butter in a saucepan. Once melted, let it brown on a medium heat, stirring often. It should turn a nutty brown. Pour into a bowl, and leave to cool slightly.

Into a bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Whisk in the flour, vanilla and salt. Then, slowly, whisk in the browned butter.

Arrange the cherry halves over the cooled base, and then evenly pour over the batter.

Bake at 190 degrees or Gas Mark 5 for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Leave to cool completely and then slice into bars – enjoy!

This Time Last Year:

Strawberry and Blueberry Ice Cream Sundae

Keep me in your duas, please, and have a beautiful day,

Wasalaam!