Can you guys even believe that Thanksgiving is in two days? I am shocked and honestly don’t know how to feel about it! I made the choice to be socially distant this year so this will be the first year of being completely solo on a major holiday. I am thinking it will be a Christmas movies and decorating type of day which I am not mad at! I wanted to share this fail proof recipe just in time for the holiday. Annndd I have to be honest. This really isn’t a “recipe.” More so a reminder that the easiest desserts to make during the holidays are pie bars.

If you are like me, then dessert is the last thing on your mind when thinking about Thanksgiving. I honestly do not love sweet things so cooking is my primary focus for the holidays VS baking. I am also guilty of leaving dessert until very last minute (anyone else?) and these are the fastest and easiest things to put together! PLUS you can cater to your vegan friend’s by using vegan butter and gluten free friends by using gluten free flour AND you aren’t missing out in terms of flavor. Are y’all sold yet?

Crust Ingredients

1 1/2 Cup Bobs Red Mill 1-1 Flour (you can use regular flour as well!)

1/2 Cup Earth Balance Butter (stick of butter)

1/2 Cup of granulated Sugar

1 Tsp Salt

Ingredients

3 Cups of fruit frozen or fresh (above I used cherries and peaches) 

1/4 Cup cornstarch

1/2-3/4 Cups granulated sugar (or sugar substitute like monk fruit or a 1/4 cup honey)

2 Teaspoons vanilla extract 

 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Lemon juice from half a lemon

A few pinches of salt 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° degrees. Take half of the crust mixture and set aside. Press the remaining half into the bottom of a parchment paper lined 8×8 pan.  Pierce crust in crust. Bake for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven allow too cool.

Mix all of the above ingredients in a pot and warm up until cornstarch is starting to thicken. Add to cooled crust. Add remaining 1/2 crust mixture top top of fruit. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until top is browned. 

Y’all this seems like a lot, but it genuinely takes no more than 15 minutes to put together (outside of waiting for the blind bake to be done).