Description
Delight in these homemade Strawberry Oatmeal Bars featuring a wholesome oat-packed crust and a luscious fresh strawberry filling, perfect for celebrating berry season with a sweet yet hearty treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Filling
- 4 cups whole strawberries (washed, hulled and diced)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- Juice from half of a lemon (about 1 ½ tablespoons)
- 1/3 cup corn starch
Oatmeal Crust
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set it aside to prepare for the batter.
- Prepare Strawberry Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the diced strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss gently until the mixture is evenly coated and set aside to macerate.
- Make Oatmeal Crust: In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the room temperature unsalted butter and vanilla extract, then blend everything together with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Assemble Bars: Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Spoon the strawberry filling over the crust and spread it out evenly. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the top to create a crumbly topping.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into 20 bars and serve.
Notes
- These bars combine the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries with a hearty oat crust, making them a wholesome dessert or snack.
- Ensure the strawberries are ripe and juicy for the best flavor.
- For easier slicing, chill the bars in the refrigerator after cooling.
- This recipe is perfect for berry season and can be adapted with other fruits like blueberries or raspberries.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 216 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 61 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 21 mg
