Brown Butter Peach Crumb Bars

August 21, 2013

brown butter peach crumb bars | une gamine dans la cuisine


Two spoonfuls of sugar + a healthy spatter of lemon juice. Prepping tea is almost as natural and automatic as breathing. Once the euphoria of morning coffee has dwindled down to a few wispy puffs of smoke, I turn to my beloved Lemon Zinger tea for rejuvenation. It has been my tea of choice since I was little - of course I no longer douse it with half & half and a pound of sugar (maybe someday I can shrink two spoonfuls down to one?).

Currently I'm basking in just such a cup of happiness while listening to Franciso Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra." I'm over the moon because this gorge piece of music is playing on the iPad I just won from the amazing folks at Foodie by Glam! I can't quite believe it's mine - it feels foreign and temporary, as though I'll have to give it back to someone at any given moment. The last photo in this post was taken with the Snapseed app. Obviously I need a lot more practice but maybe I can give my p & s camera some time off, occasionally. :)

I'm also savouring forkfuls of a peach bar - *contemplating* going back for a second.



brown butter peach crumb bars | une gamine dans la cuisine


Peaches are just about everywhere right now and I'm trying my best to resist buying too many all at once. If I didn't have to worry about boring you with another pie, I'd be making one twice week (at least!). Luckily I adore crumb bars almost as much as pie, especially when brown butter is added to the equation. Sweet peaches and nutkin brown butter are kind enough to share equal spotlight time - and if you're not too intimated by browning butter, this is a fairly simple recipe.

I recommend finding a quiet spot to yourself and enjoying one (or two) peach bars with your favourite cup of tea (iced or hot).  Sharing is optional. xo


brown butter peach crumb bars | une gamine dans la cuisine


Brown Butter Peach Crumb Bars
makes about 20-25 bars

for the crust & crumb topping
1 cup (that's two sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
zest from one lemon (about 1 Tablespoon)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten

for the filling
3 1/2 cups fresh peaches, chopped (about 4-5 peaches)

method
Prepare the brown butter: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Increase the heat to medium and, stirring occasionally, cook the butter until it turns golden brown and develops a nutty aroma. Depending on the stove's heat it can take 5-8 minutes for the butter to brown properly. During this process the butter will first become foamy before changing colour - making it difficult to see what's going on. Be sure to give it a good stir now and then so that the butter doesn't burn. Once it looks gorgeous and becomes fragrant, remove the pan from the heat. Place the butter into the freezer until solid (about 30 minutes).
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil (shiny side up). Butter the foil.
In a large mixing bowl - combine the sugar and lemon zest. Use your fingers to rub the zest into the sugar until it's moist and fragrant. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Remove the now-frozen brown butter from the freezer and add it to the flour mixture. {Note: If the butter is stubborn and sticking to the pan you may need to scrape it out with a spatula - don't worry if it comes out in bits and pieces.} Add the egg - use a pastry blender or fork to work the butter and egg into the dry ingredients until the mixture turns crumbly (it will look dry but should stick together when pinched).
Press about 3/4 of the mixture onto the bottom of prepared pan.
Arrange the chopped peaches into an even layer on top of the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the peaches.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown.
Remove the pan from the oven and place onto cooling rack. Cool completely before serving.

adapted from smitten kitchen

22 comments:

  1. I promise you'd never bore me with pie recipes, peach or otherwise! These bars are a wonderful compromise, though.
    I'll have to look up that piece of music - sounds wonderful.

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  2. It's official - we need to have tea with our peach bars! :)

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  3. They look absolutely delicious! Lovely pictures.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. Pretty peach crumb bars, Valerie! I never tire of crumb bars or pies. Love your work and I'm glad you're enjoying summer...and peaches. :)

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  5. Peaches + brown butter sound lovely together... & congrats on winning the iPad :)

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  6. Ok I need to take you to Vegas! You win GREAT stuff! :) I want to be you :)

    The bars. Wow - the crumble topping, the browned butter, the peaches; the fact that they're bars not a whole pie, all soooo good! :)

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  7. You make me wish it's peach season in Australia right now. At least I can still have the tea and music.

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  8. @Averie: lol! Yeah, it's strange, isn't it? *Crossing my fingers* for a fancy camera... :D

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  9. Congrats on the iPad, how cool! And the peach bars look wonderful. We'll all be just dreaming of yummy stuff like this in a few months when the cold winds blow.....

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  10. Gosh these are probably my favorite thing ever: peach bars. The brown butter element makes this irresistible! I need these in my life!

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  11. I can almost taste these. What perfect flavor combinations and oh so pretty to look at! Oh and how fun to win such a really great thing! I've never won anything, bet it feels amazing.

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  12. I thought I was all done with peaches, but now I see I need to go get a big bag of them and make some crumb bars...and some peach butter :)

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  13. Congrats on winning the iPad. And this looks so rustic and comforting. Brown butter really adds something to a dessert, this sounds delicious!

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  14. I adore my iPad. Enjoy! These peach bars look fantastic--a perfect companion for tea.

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  15. That's so neat that you won an ipad! When I was in the US, it seemed like *everyone* had one. I was so jealous!

    Anyway, these bars sound incredible. Love anything peach as it is but these... I feel compelled to make them!

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  16. Congrats on the ipad - I never win anything!
    Love the bars. Brown butter, crumb topping, and peaches in one? YUM!

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  17. congrats on the iPad!! and these bars are absolutely wonderful - my mom and sis are coming in a week and these are the perfect thing to have when they are arrive!

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  18. Awesome that you won an iPad :) I just killed my stand mixer and need to win a new one of those, I know wishful thinking. Your peach bars are lovely, I could use a couple right now!

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  19. Congratulations on that awesome win!! I love your choice of music!! And that tidbit about your cup of tea is seriously making me want to get up and grab a cup. Minus the shuga. ;-)

    Brown butter peach bars...the name alone is making my mouth water!

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  20. I love crumb bars and these look amazing! What an awesome idea to use peaches!
    Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com

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  21. I absolutely LOVE a great crumb bar! Yours looks divine. Very cool that you won an ipad - congrats!!

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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