Plum Pear Cardamom Bars

Grab the last plums of the season and bake them into buttery bars. These are so easy and sooo good!

Crust

1 c unsalted butter, room temperature
1⁄2 c granulated sugar
2 T light brown sugar
1 t vanilla bean paste or extract
1⁄4 t kosher salt
1 t ground cardamom
2 c all-purpose flour
1⁄4 t baking soda

Fruit

3 T light brown sugar
Pinch salt
1 T cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
1⁄4 t almond extract
1⁄2 t lemon juice
1 1⁄2 c chopped plums
1 pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8” square baking pan with parchment, leaving some paper to overhang the sides.

Make the crust by creaming the butter, sugars, vanilla, salt, and cardamom in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add in the flour and baking soda and stir to combine. Reserve 3⁄4 cup of the mixture for the topping and set aside. Press remaining dough into the prepared pan.

Combine the sugar, salt, cornstarch, almond extract, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Stir in the chopped fruit. Spread the fruit mixture on the crust, then dollop the remaining dough over the fruit, using your hands to squeeze the crumbs into clumps.

Bake 30-35 minutes until light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and cut into bars once cool.