Step 1: Preheat and Prepare the Baking Dish

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure the bars come out smoothly after baking. This is a crucial step that guarantees your crumble bars will have those clean, delicious slices.

Step 2: Prepare the Crust and Crumble

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. These ingredients form the foundation of your bars, giving them structure and sweetness.

Next, cut in 1 cup of cold, cubed unsalted butter and 1 egg. The key here is to ensure the butter is cold, as this helps to create that crumbly texture in both the crust and the topping. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. This step is important to achieve that buttery and flaky texture. Tip: If the butter begins to soften, chill the mixture briefly in the refrigerator before continuing.

Step 3: Form the Crust

Once your mixture is crumbly and well combined, press half of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish. This will form the crust of the bars. Use your hands or the back of a spoon to spread it evenly across the dish, making sure it reaches all corners.

Step 4: Prepare the Peach Filling

In another bowl, toss the sliced peaches with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. The lemon juice brightens the flavor and prevents the peaches from browning, while the cornstarch thickens the peach juices as they bake, creating a luscious filling.

Mix until all the peaches are evenly coated with the spiced mixture. The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar will infuse the peaches with a deep, comforting flavor that contrasts beautifully with the crisp, buttery crumble.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Spread the peach mixture evenly over the crust, making sure the peaches are distributed in a single layer so that every bite has a taste of fruit. Then, crumble the remaining half of the crumb mixture over the top of the peaches. Don’t worry about making it perfect—uneven chunks will bake into a beautiful golden topping.

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the peaches are bubbling. The aroma of peaches, cinnamon, and buttery crumble will fill your kitchen as it bakes!

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Once baked, remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. It’s tempting to cut into the bars immediately, but cooling is crucial for the bars to set properly and slice cleanly.

Once cool, cut into squares and serve. These Cinnamon Peach Crumble Bars are delicious on their own, but they’re also divine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.