Description
Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars offer a delightful fusion of sweet, tangy berries nestled between buttery oat layers. Homemade comfort meets summer freshness in this irresistible dessert that brings simple joy to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (118 milliliters)
Sweeteners:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (for strawberry layer)
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare a precise oven environment by preheating to 350°F (175°C). Meticulously line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, applying a light cooking spray coating to ensure effortless removal.
- Transform butter into a liquid state using a microwave-safe bowl, heating for approximately 1 minute at high power.
- Integrate flour, rolled oats, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt into the melted butter. Gently combine until a crumbly, slightly sandy texture emerges with varied particle sizes.
- Carefully segregate and reserve 1 heaping cup of the mixture for the eventual topping, setting it momentarily aside.
- Utilize fingers or a flexible spatula to uniformly compress the remaining mixture into the prepared pan, creating a level, compact foundation.
- Within the same mixing vessel, amalgamate chopped strawberries, sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and cornstarch. Thoroughly toss to ensure comprehensive ingredient integration.
- Distribute the strawberry mixture strategically across the compressed crust, ensuring an even layer.
- Enhance the strawberry layer by sprinkling the previously reserved crumble. Squeeze the mixture between palms to generate more substantial, rustic crumble fragments before scattering.
- Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 50-55 minutes. Monitor for crucial visual indicators: set edges, slightly firm center, pale golden crumble topping, and effervescent strawberry filling along the periphery.
- Once baked, transfer the pan to a wire cooling rack. Allow the bars to rest and stabilize for a minimum of 1 hour before attempting to slice, preventing structural disintegration and ensuring clean, precise cuts.
Notes
- Crumble Texture Tip: Squeeze the reserved crumble mixture in your hands to create larger, more delectable chunks that add a delightful crunch to the bars.
- Strawberry Filling Hack: Toss strawberries with sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch to prevent a runny filling and ensure a perfect, jammy consistency.
- Baking Doneness Trick: Keep an eye on the bars rather than strictly following the timer, looking for pale golden crumble and bubbling strawberry edges as your key indicators.
- Cooling Wisdom: Patience is crucial – let the bars cool completely for at least an hour to prevent crumbling and ensure clean, beautiful slices.
- Pan Preparation Secret: Line the baking pan with foil and use cooking spray for effortless removal and easy cleanup of your delicious bars.
- Flexible Ingredient Swap: Feel free to experiment with other berries like raspberries or blueberries for a delightful variation on this classic dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg