📋 Saskatoon Berry Squares recipe

5 from 4 votes

📋 Saskatoon Berry Squares recipe

These Saskatoon Berry squares have a juicy Saskatoon berry filling nestled between delicious buttery oat layers. They are easy to make and you can make these with either fresh or frozen Saskatoon berries and pantry staples!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Canadian, North American

Keyword 2 ingredient dough

Special Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

Servings squares

Calories 181kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Equipment

Ingredients

Filling:

6 cups Saskatoon berries *can use frozen or fresh or sub blueberries
½ cup +2 tbsps water (for frozen berries) *If using fresh Saskatoon berries, use ¾ cup water
⅔ cup white granulated sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
¾ teaspoon almond extract

Crust:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups quick oats
1 ⅓ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/176 degrees C) and generously spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine Saskatoon berries, water, white granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch together in saucepan. *use ¾ cup water for fresh berries
6 cups Saskatoon berries, ½ cup +2 tbsps water (for frozen berries), ⅔ cup white granulated sugar, 4 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Cook and stir over medium heat, until berries and water are absorbed. *This will take about 15-20 minutes and it will look quite watery at one point. *It will take longer if you are using frozen berries.
Cook, stirring frequently, until it's thicker than pie filling. If not thick enough after 20 minutes, add another tablespoon cornstarch and cook for 5 more minutes.
Remove from heat, and cool. Add almond extract. * I put it in the freezer for a few minutes to cool it faster.
¾ teaspoon almond extract
in a large mixing bowl combine dry ingredients ( flour, baking soda, brown sugar and quick oats) together.
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ⅓ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ cups quick oats
Cut in butter (a little at a time, mixing between additions) and mix until mixture is combined. (*See Top Tip)
1 cup unsalted butter
Spread half of the crust mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan and pat down with a spatula.
Cover with cooled Saskatoon berry filling.
Hint: To avoid getting crumbs in the filling, drop dollops of filling all over the crust with a spatula or spoon. Then very carefully spread it out with a butter knife or spatula, avoiding getting the dry mixture on the knife or spatula. *You have to be very patient while you are doing this!
Spread the remaining half on top of the filling and pat down with a spatula.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until it's golden brown on top.

Notes

*NOTE: Nutrition is calculated for 24 bars

Expert Recipe Tips:

- Don’t thaw frozen Saskatoon berries before using. Adding them frozen helps prevent excess liquid from making the filling too runny. If you are using fresh berries, please see recipe card for additional amount of water you need to add.

- Press the crust mixture firmly and evenly into the pan. This ensures a stable base that holds together when cut.

- Let the squares cool completely before cutting. This gives the filling time to fully set and prevents them from falling apart.

- Taste your Saskatoon berries before baking. Depending on how sweet or tart they are, you may want to adjust the sugar slightly for balance.

- Consider blind baking the crust for 5–7 minutes. Partially baking the crust before adding the filling can help create a firmer, less crumbly base.

- Use cold butter when mixing the crust. Cold butter creates a better crumb texture and prevents the crust from becoming greasy.

- Avoid overbaking the top layer. If it starts to brown too quickly, tent the pan with foil to protect it while the filling finishes baking.

- Add a pinch of cinnamon or lemon zest to the filling. This adds depth and brightness to the flavor without overpowering the berries.

- Cut with a sharp knife and wipe it between slices. This helps create clean, bakery-style edges for a neater presentation.

Storage

Store Saskatoon berry bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. These squares freeze well in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Nutrition