Description
Homemade strawberry oatmeal bars blend sweet, tangy fruit with buttery oat layers for a delightful dessert. Crumbly edges and rich strawberry filling make these bars perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (diced, or frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1.5 cups (120 g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)
- 0.5 cup (115 g) butter, melted
- 0.5 cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 2 tbsps honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 0.25 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring slight overhang and lightly coating with cooking spray for effortless removal.
- Oat Base: Combine dry ingredients and press two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the prepared pan, creating a solid, compact foundation that will support the fruity layer.
- Strawberry Layer: Generously distribute the strawberry mixture across the oat base, ensuring even coverage from edge to edge, which will infuse the bars with vibrant, sweet flavor.
- Crumble Topping: Scatter the remaining oat mixture over the strawberry layer, creating a rustic, textured surface that will transform into a golden, crisp crown during baking.
- Baking Process: Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake until the edges turn a rich golden brown and the center sets with a gentle, stable consistency.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps them set and intensify their flavor profile, then lift out using parchment paper and slice into neat, uniform squares.
Notes
- Precision with Strawberry Selection: Choose ripe, sweet strawberries at peak season for maximum flavor intensity and natural sweetness.
- Moisture Management: Pat strawberries dry before adding to prevent excess liquid from making the bars soggy and compromising the base’s crisp texture.
- Oat Mixture Consistency: Ensure oat mixture is just moist enough to hold together when pressed, avoiding dry or overly wet crumbles that could affect bar structure.
- Temperature Control: Let bars cool completely before cutting to allow proper setting and prevent crumbling, creating cleaner, more professional-looking serving pieces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 174
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 58 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg