These strawberry oatmeal crumble bars are easy to make and they make a wonderful dessert for spring and summer. Buttery, crumbly, sweet, and oh so fresh! You’re going to want to make this recipe as soon as possible.
It’s strawberry season here and I couldn’t be happier! There’s no better time than now for me to share my favorite strawberry oatmeal crumble bars. They have a delicious oatmeal cinnamon crumble and jammy fresh strawberry filling with the right amount of sweetness in each bite! They make a perfect fresh dessert, snack, or breakfast! Totally acceptable for breakfast because they’re made with fresh berries, right? Hehe.. Enjoy as is or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the dreamiest dessert!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE STRAWBERRY OATMEAL CRUMBLE BARS
- Buttery, crumbly, and fruity! The combination of buttery oat crumble and jammy fresh strawberries is just so good. It makes a perfect hearty texture.
- They’re delicious to enjoy as is or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the dreamiest dessert!
- Easy to make! You’ll just need to make the oat crumble and cook the strawberry filling, then layer these two and bake!
- So perfect for spring and summer months!
- If you’re baking for a crowd, you can double this recipe and bake in a 9×13-inch pan.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED & NOTES
Strawberry – This recipe uses a combination of fresh strawberries and strawberry jam.
Lemon – This recipe uses fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. Lemon enhances the flavor of the strawberries.
Oats – I’d recommend using rolled oats for the best crumble texture.
Butter – An essential in most crumble toppings! This recipe uses unsalted butter, it gives you complete control of the overall salt. Can I use salted butter? Yes, it is fine to use salted butter to make this strawberry crisp, skip the salt.
Sugar – This recipe uses two types of sugar in this recipe, light brown sugar and granulated sugar to balance the sweetness and texture.
Cinnamon – A bit of cinnamon for the crumble to enhances the flavor.
Salt – This will do the job of balancing out the flavor.
Baking powder – Adding a teaspoon of baking powder to the flour mixture makes the crumble more tender.
Cornstarch – You’ll need cornstarch to thicken the filling.
BAKING TOOLS & EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED
(Check my favorite baking tools and equipment here!)
- 8-inch square baking pan
- Medium mixing bowls
- Medium saucepan or skillet
- Parchment paper
- Pastry cutter
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THESE STRAWBERRY OATMEAL CRUMBLE BARS
(Be sure to check the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions)
STEP 1 – Make the Oatmeal Crumble
Cut the cold butter into small cubes, and set aside.
Combine the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl, then whisk until well combined.
Add in the cold butter cubes and gently toss them through the flour mixture until each piece is well coated. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter cubes into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal, pea-sized chunks. Keep tossing the butter through the flour mixture as you work. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or until you’re ready to use it.
STEP 2 – Prepare the Strawberry Filling
In a large bowl, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with four cups of water and stir until dissolved. Add hulled strawberries to the water mixture and gently toss them with clean hands, then let the strawberries soak in the water for about 10 minutes. Rinse the strawberries clean and gently blot the strawberries with a towel to get rid of some moisture. Cut the strawberries into slices and set aside.
If you’re using frozen strawberries, no need to rinse them. Let the strawberries thaw slightly and cut into slices
Combine the strawberry slices, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, strawberry jam, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. As you continue to stir, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 8 minutes. The strawberries will break down and thicken, then remove from heat and allow it to cool while you pre-bake the oatmeal crumble.
STEP 3 – Assemble and Bake Your Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars
Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
Reserve 1 cup of the oatmeal crumble for the topping and chill in the refrigerator until needed. Transfer the remainder of the oatmeal crumble to the prepared baking pan and press firmly against the bottom of the baking pan. Transfer to the oven and bake the crust for about 15 minutes or until pale golden brown.
Take the crust out from the oven, then spread the strawberry filling over the hot crust and sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the strawberry filling. Immediately return to the oven and bake on the middle rack for an additional 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST STRAWBERRY OATMEAL CRUMBLE BARS
- Line every side of your pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Cool completely before removing it from the pan and slicing it into squares. The strawberry filling continues to thicken as the bars cool.
- Measure flour correctly. When measuring the flour with cups, make sure to spoon and level the flour into your measuring cup. Do not scoop and pack the flour. By doing this, you will yield too much flour and make the dough dry. A kitchen scale is the best option, it’s so much more accurate than cup measurements, that’s why I always write the recipe with grams. 1 cup flour = 125 grams.
- When you make the crumble, rub and cut the cold butter cubes into the dry ingredients with your fingertip or pastry cutter. Mixing with a food processor can make the crumbs too fine, and it will end up with a cakey texture rather than a crumbly texture.
- Make sure the crumble mixture is always cold. If the butter becomes too soft before baking, put the crumble mixture in the fridge and let it cool again.
- Keep your eyes on the bars, think of baking times just as suggestions, because every oven is different! The temperature can vary greatly, even when you set it to the same temperature as in the recipe.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
If you want to cut it into neat squares, leave it on the counter for at least 2 hours to cool completely, and then chill in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting into squares with a sharp knife.
You can also serve it warm and messy like a berry crisp topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
HERE’S HOW TO STORE THE LEFTOVERS
These bars should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze the bars, but the crust will be a bit softer after thawing out. If you want to freeze these bars for later, wrap each slice with layers of plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe container. It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars
These easy strawberry oatmeal crumble bars are easy to make and they make a wonderful dessert for spring and summer. Buttery, crumbly, and oh so fresh! You’re going to want to make this recipe as soon as possible.
Ingredients
Oatmeal Crumble
- 156g (1+1/4 cups, spoon and level method) all-purpose flour
- 120g (1+1/3 cups) old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 73g (1/3 cup) light brown sugar
- 50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 170g (1+1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold
Strawberry Filling
- 385g (2+3/4 cups) strawberry slices
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 120g (1/2 cup) strawberry jam
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
STEP 1 - Make the Oatmeal Crumble
Cut the cold butter into small cubes, and set aside. Combine the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl, then whisk until well combined.
Add in the cold butter cubes and gently toss them through the flour mixture until each piece is well coated. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter cubes into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal, pea-sized chunks. Keep tossing the butter through the flour mixture as you work. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or until you’re ready to use it.
STEP 2 - Prepare the Strawberry Filling
In a large bowl, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with four cups of water and stir until dissolved. Add hulled strawberries to the water mixture and gently toss them with clean hands, then let the strawberries soak in the water for about 10 minutes. Rinse the strawberries clean and gently blot the strawberries with a towel to get rid of some moisture. Cut the strawberries into slices and set aside. If you're using frozen strawberries, no need to rinse them. Let the strawberries thaw slightly and cut into slices
Combine the strawberry slices, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, strawberry jam, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. As you continue to stir, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 8 minutes. The strawberries will break down and thicken, then remove from heat and allow it to cool while you pre-bake the oatmeal crumble.
STEP 3 - Assemble and Bake Your Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars
Preheat the oven to 350F and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
Reserve 1 cup of the oatmeal crumble for the topping and chill in the refrigerator until needed. Transfer the remainder of the oatmeal crumble to the prepared baking pan and press firmly against the bottom of the baking pan. Transfer to the oven and bake the crust for about 15 minutes or until pale golden brown.
Take the crust out from the oven, then spread the strawberry filling over the hot crust and sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the strawberry filling. Immediately return to the oven and bake on the middle rack for an additional 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
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If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Send me a message or write a comment below.
Also, be sure to snap a picture and tag me on your social media posts with #thejobaker
Happy Baking!
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