Description
Delicious Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars featuring a buttery oat crust topped with a fresh strawberry layer and a crispy crumble topping. Perfect as a snack or dessert, these bars offer a wonderful combination of tender fruit and crunchy texture, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Strawberry Layer
- 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh strawberries
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.
- Melt Butter: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter by microwaving it for about 1 minute on high power until fully melted.
- Make Crust Mixture: To the melted butter, add the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and salt. Stir thoroughly until the mixture forms a dry, sandy texture with some larger crumble pieces.
- Reserve Crumble Topping: Take 1 heaping cup of the mixture and set it aside; this will be used later as the crumble topping.
- Form Crust in Pan: Transfer the remaining mixture to the prepared pan. Using a spatula or clean fingers, hard-pack the mixture evenly to form a smooth, firm crust. Set aside.
- Prepare Strawberry Filling: In the same mixing bowl, combine the coarsely chopped fresh strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss well to blend all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble Bars: Evenly spread the strawberry mixture over the prepared crust layer in the pan.
- Add Crumble Topping: Evenly sprinkle the reserved crumble topping mixture over the strawberry layer. For larger crumble pieces, gently squeeze the topping mixture in your palm before sprinkling.
- Bake: Bake the assembled bars for approximately 50 minutes. Bake until the edges are set and the center has just set, with the crumble topping appearing pale golden and the strawberry filling bubbling along the edges. Bars may require up to 55 minutes if strawberries are very juicy; monitor for doneness rather than relying strictly on time.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely for at least 1 hour. Cooling fully is essential to allow the bars to set properly for clean slicing and serving without crumbling apart.
Notes
- Using fresh strawberries provides the best flavor and texture for these bars.
- Line the pan with foil for easy removal and cleaning.
- Allow bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent them from falling apart.
- For a crunchier topping, squeeze the crumble mixture in your hands before sprinkling to form larger clusters.
- If strawberries are very juicy, baking time may need to be extended to ensure proper set.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: strawberry bars, oatmeal crumble bars, crumble topping dessert, baked strawberry dessert, easy dessert bars
