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Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
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Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars combine fresh strawberries and hearty oats for a wholesome and indulgent treat that's perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they offer a chewy oat base and crumbly topping with a juicy strawberry filling.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Bars, Easy, Fruit, Oatmeal, Quick, Strawberry, Vegetarian
Servings: 9 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old fashioned/rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and chopped
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal of the bars later. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture comes together and looks crumbly but holds slightly when pressed.
  • Reserve about 1 cup of this oat mixture for the topping and press the rest firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan. This will form the sturdy, chewy base of your bars.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the chopped strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch together. Make sure the strawberries are evenly coated with the sugar and cornstarch – this will help create a thick, jammy filling as the bars bake.
  • Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the oat crust layer in the pan. Then, sprinkle the reserved oat crumb topping evenly over the strawberries to cover them completely.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbling around the edges. Keep an eye on them during the last 10 minutes to avoid over-browning.
  • Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This cooling time helps the filling set so the bars hold together when cut. Once cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and cut into squares or rectangles.

Equipment

  • 8x8-inch baking pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Large Bowl
  • Medium Bowl
  • Wire Rack

Notes

For the best texture, use fresh, ripe strawberries. Increase cornstarch to 3 teaspoons for a firmer filling. Cool bars completely before cutting to avoid messy filling. Lightly grease parchment paper to prevent sticking if desired. Use light brown sugar for subtle caramel flavor. Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate up to a week. Bars can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Variations include mixing berries, adding nuts, gluten-free and vegan substitutions, spiced flavors, or drizzling with glaze.