Blackberry Crumble Bars with Branch & Bramble Sour Ale

Recipe & Photos by: Kaitlin Hill 

Shortbread, blackberries, and Branch & Bramble Sour Ale are all the elements you need for a delicious dessert or teatime treat. This easy recipe only requires six ingredients, but results in an impressive cookie that will have friends and family asking for the recipe. The addition of Branch & Bramble Sour Ale to the homemade jam adds a bit of tartness that perfectly balances jam’s natural sweetness and the buttery shortbread. Sprinkle a little confectioner’s sugar over the finished bars for an optional but delightful extra flourish!

Ingredients: 
10 ounces of blackberries, fresh or frozen 
¾ cup of granulated sugar 
¾ cup of Branch & Bramble Sour Ale
2 cups of all-purpose flour 
½ cup of granulated sugar  ½ teaspoon of salt 
2 sticks of unsalted butter, at room temperature  

Directions:

First, make the jam by combining the blackberries, ¾ cup of sugar, and Branch & Bramble Sour Ale in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat.

Bring the berry mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer. Let the jam bubble, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to a jam consistency. This will take 10 to 12 minutes.

Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Line an 8x8-inch brownie pan with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350°F.

To make the shortbread dough, place the flour, ½ cup of sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter in knobs and pulse until the mixture is crumbly.

Divide the dough into two equal portions.

Press one half of the dough into the bottom of the lined brownie pan.

Top with the jam. You may not need to use all of it, just enough to cover the shortbread dough.

Using your hands, crumble the remaining dough on top of the jam.

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 – 35 minutes until lightly golden.

Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.