Vegan cherry crumb bars

Name: Vegan cherry crumb bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 155 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup old-fashioned oats; ¾ cup brown sugar; ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; 1 cup vegan butter (melted); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 4 cups pitted sweet cherries (fresh or frozen); ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 tbsp cornstarch; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ¼ tsp almond extract (optional but recommended)

Vegan cherry crumb bars, an easier (but equally delish) version of cherry pies that’s sweet, buttery, crumbly, and incredibly easy to make. 🍒 Honestly, there’s something about cherries that makes every dessert feel a little more special. Maybe it’s their sweet-tart flavor, or perhaps how they instantly remind us of beautiful sunny afternoons and farmers' markets.

Cherry crumb bars arranged on parchment with fresh fruit and golden oat crumble topping

The only downside, though, is that baking an entire cherry pie can sometimes feel like a weekend project. Between rolling out pastry, crimping edges, and waiting for everything to cool, it’s not exactly the kind of dessert you whip up on a whim.

But, guess what? I have a shortcut: vegan cherry bars. You still get that luscious cherry filling and buttery, golden crumble topping we all love, but in a much simpler, slice-and-share dessert. For help choosing cherries for these bars, check out this guide to pick the sweetest fruits.

Excited? Let’s get to the recipe!

Table of Contents show

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✔️ Perfect for Breakfast + Snack + Dessert. These cherry crumb bars are wholesome enough to enjoy for breakfast, and just the thing for those late-night sweet cravings. You're also gonna love serving them as dessert after a backyard BBQ or at any summer get-together.

✔️ Completely Vegan. Made without dairy or eggs, but still every bit as buttery & delicious.

✔️ Easy to Slice & Share. Portable, mess-free, and ideal for potlucks and bake sales.

✔️ Simple pantry ingredients. Chances are you already have most of what you need at home.

✔️ Great for making ahead. They store well in the fridge and taste as good the next day.

ingredients for cherry crumble including fresh cherries, oats, vegan butter and sugar

Ingredients for Cherry Crumb Bars

For the Crust and Crumble

All-purpose flour. The base of the crust and the crumb topping use all-purpose flour for the perfect texture. I recommend measuring it with the spoon-and-level method to avoid the mistake of packing in too much flour, which can make the crumble too dry. If you're looking for a gluten-free option, a good-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour should work well. No pie crust needed whatsoever!

Old-fashioned oats. For just the right amount of chew. Be sure to go with old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats (make the crumble too soft) or steel-cut oats (don’t soften enough during baking). Also double-check for gluten-free, if that’s a requirement.

Brown sugar. The caramel-like richness comes from brown sugar, and yes, you can reduce the amount if you prefer a less sweet dessert, without affecting the texture too much.

Granulated sugar. Regular granulated sugar is the right choice for this recipe. While caster sugar will also work, granulated sugar provides the ideal texture for the crumble.

Baking powder. The tiniest amount helps the batter to rise slightly in the oven, then deflate as it cools. The push-pull effect on the gluten strands is what gives these cherry oat bars their chewy texture.

Vegan butter. You simply melt it in the oven (no need to brown or soften). I prefer unsalted, but you can go for salted and reduce the added salt accordingly.

Vanilla extract. Always use pure for the best results.

Salt. Last, but definitely not least, salt is added to balance sweetness.

Stacked vegan crumb bars on a white plate with a buttery oat topping and juicy cherry filling

For the Cherry Filling

Pitted sweet cherries. The main character of the recipe 😉 I love using sweet fresh cherries, but any variety works, and if the fruit isn’t in season, then frozen can be used as an easy replacement.

Granulated sugar. Just enough to sweeten the filling without stealing the spotlight from the cherries. It also draws out the cherries' natural juices as they bake, creating that thick jammy filling we’re aiming for.

Cornstarch. The secret behind clean, picture-perfect dessert bars. As the cherries bake and release their juices, the cornstarch thickens the filling so the bars hold their shape and slice nice & neatly once cooled.

Lemon juice. Don't worry; it won't make the filling taste lemony. A splash of lemon juice simply brightens the cherries' natural flavor.

Vanilla extract. A little goes a long way.

Optional, but recommended: almond extract. Trust me on this one! It adds that classic bakery-style flavor that makes these bars extra special.

How to Make Cherry Dessert Bars

Simple & easy, this summer cherry dessert doesn’t require MasterChef skills. Here’s what you need to do…

process of making buttery oat crumble and spreading into a parchment lined pan

Prepare the Crust & Crumb Batter

Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, granulated sugar, & salt in a large bowl. Stir well so it's thoroughly combined. Then add the melted vegan butter and vanilla. Stir again, this time until the batter is crumbly. Now, press two-thirds of the mixture into the bottom of the baking pan and set aside.

process of cooking cherry crumb filling over a stovetop until it thickens

Prepare the Cherry Filling

Add all the cherry filling ingredients to a saucepan and cook over medium flame for 5 to 7 minutes. Stir frequently until the mixture thickens.

layering the yummy flavors of this vegan cherry crumble getting ready to bake

Complete the Pan and bake

Spread the cherry filling over the crust, then sprinkle the remaining crumb mix on the top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes (or until the topping is lightly golden). I know it's tempting to dig in right away, but let the bars cool completely before refrigerating them for at least 1 hour, so they settle for clean slices.

freshly baked cherry crumb bars cooling in the pan, then slicing and serving

Slice & Serve

Once the bars are fully chilled, lift them out of the pan (with the help of the parchment paper) and slice them into squares or rectangles. Enjoy them as they are, dust them with a little powdered sugar, or make them extra indulgent with a dollop of dairy-free whipped cream 🤤

Easy Ingredient Alternatives

Yup, there are a couple of substitutions I can recommend if you’re out of something or want to make a swap simply because you don’t like the flavor of a particular ingredient:

Sweet cherries → Sour cherries (increase the sugar slightly)
Brown sugar → Coconut sugar
Granulated sugar → Cane sugar or maple syrup
Cornstarch → Arrowroot starch
Vegan butter → Plant-based baking sticks (such as Earth Balance or Miyoko's)

stack of vegan cherry crumb bars with a buttery oat topping, juicy filling and fresh cherries

Storage & Freezing Tips

In the fridge: Feel free to enjoy your vegan cherry bars at room temperature for 1–2 days, then I’d suggest storing them in an airtight bag/container for up to 1 week.

In the freezer: Good news is that these cherry crumb bars are freezer-friendly! They’ll sit well in the freezer for up to 3 months (stored in an airtight jar). Thaw in the fridge before eating.

FAQs

Can I use a different fruit when making this fresh cherry dessert?

Though it sounds counterintuitive, the recipe can be made with pretty much any berries you like. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries; you name it!

Can I make these cherry crumb bars gluten-free?

Yes. Simply swap the all-purpose flour for a good-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour and use certified gluten-free rolled oats.

Why is my cherry filling runny?

Your cherry filling may be runny for one of three reasons…

1. The filling wasn’t cooked long enough.
2. The cornstarch was not measured correctly.
3. The bars weren’t given enough time to cool.

Can I use frozen cherries?

Absolutely. Frozen cherries are a convenient alternative, especially if you can find pitted ones. Tip- Thaw and drain any excess liquid before using, so the filling doesn't become too watery.

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