Strawberry Crumb Bars

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Fresh strawberries are the star of these easy Strawberry Crumb Bars. They’re buttery, fruity, and crumbly, with a simple one-pan recipe that works well for weekends, potlucks, and sharing with family.

 

Ingredient Notes

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make these strawberry crumb bars.

For the Crust and Crumb Topping:

• Butter: Use softened unsalted butter so it blends easily with the other ingredients and gives the crust a rich, buttery flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: This gives the crust and crumb topping the structure they need while keeping them tender.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned oats for a hearty, chewy crumb topping with plenty of texture.
• Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar adds sweetness and a little extra moisture to the crust and topping.
• Salt: A little salt balances the sweetness and brings out the crust’s buttery flavor.
• Baking Powder: This helps keep the crumb topping light instead of too dense.
• Egg whites: Egg whites help bind the crust and crumb mixture while keeping the texture light.

For the Strawberry Filling:

• Fresh Strawberries: Hull and dice the strawberries into small pieces so they cook down evenly and spread well between the layers.
• Granulated Sugar: Sugar sweetens the strawberries and helps create a soft, syrupy filling as they bake.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch thickens the strawberry juices so the filling sets nicely without making the bars soggy.
• Fresh Lemon Juice: A little lemon juice brightens the strawberry flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds a subtle warmth that brings all the flavors together.

How to Make Strawberry Crumb Bars

These bars come together in a few simple layers, starting with a buttery oat crust and finishing with fresh strawberries and a crumbly topping.

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F with a rack in the center. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving some overhang on the ends, then lightly grease the pan.

Step 2: Make the Crumb Mixture

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the softened butter and work it in with your fingers or a pastry cutter until crumbly.

Step 3: Reserve Some for the Topping

Scoop 2 cups of the crumb mixture into a separate bowl and set it aside. Use this for the crumb topping later.

Step 4: Make the Crust

Stir the egg whites into the remaining crumb mixture until combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.

Step 5: Bake the Crust

Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes, just until the surface looks dry and starts to set.

Step 6: Start the Strawberry Filling

While the crust bakes, add the diced strawberries to a large bowl, so they’re ready for the filling mixture.

Step 7: Mix the Filling

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch. Sprinkle the mixture over the strawberries, then add the lemon juice and vanilla. Gently toss everything together until the berries are well coated.

Step 8: Add the Strawberries

Once the crust comes out of the oven, spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the warm crust. Pour in any juices left in the bowl too.

Step 9: Add the Crumb Topping

Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the strawberries. For a chunkier topping, squeeze some of the crumbs between your fingers to make larger clusters as you sprinkle.

Step 10: Bake the Bars

Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the strawberry filling bubbles around the edges and the topping is lightly golden.

Step 11: Cool Completely

Set the pan on a wire rack and let the bars cool completely, about 1 hour. This gives the strawberry filling time to firm up for cleaner slices.

Step 12: Slice and Serve

Use the parchment or foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into 24 bars and serve.

Tips for Success

• Use softened butter, not melted butter. Softened butter blends into the flour and oats properly, while melted butter can make the crumb mixture greasy and affect how the crust holds together.
• Measure the 2 cups of topping before adding the egg whites. The egg whites turn the remaining crumb mixture into the crust, so setting aside the topping first keeps the crust-to-topping proportions balanced.
• Dice the strawberries into small, even pieces. Larger pieces release more moisture as they bake, which can leave the filling looser and make the bars harder to cut cleanly.
• Add all the strawberry juices to the pan. The liquid helps create the fruit filling as it bakes, so don’t leave the juices behind in the bowl.
• Let the crust partially bake before adding the strawberries. This gives the bottom layer enough structure to hold the juicy filling without becoming overly soft.

What to Serve With Strawberry Crumb Bars

These strawberry crumb bars are great with something light and refreshing, especially when you’re serving them for brunch, dessert, or an afternoon treat.

• Strawberry Limeade: The lime and fresh mint add a bright, refreshing contrast to the sweet strawberry bars.
• Blackberry Lemonade: Tart lemon and juicy blackberries balance the buttery sweetness of the crumb bars.
• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins: The light lemon flavor pairs well with the sweet strawberry filling and crumb topping.
• Coconut Muffins: Toasty coconut and almond flavors add something different alongside the fruity strawberry bars.
• Non Alcoholic Pina Coladas: Creamy pineapple and coconut make a fun tropical pairing with fresh strawberry crumb bars.

Make a batch for the weekend and leave them out for everyone to grab. They’re just the kind of homemade treat that disappears a little at a time.

Variations

• Chocolate Strawberry Crumb Bars: Sprinkle 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips over the strawberry filling before adding the crumb topping.
• Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars: Use 2 cups diced strawberries and 2 cups diced rhubarb in place of the 4 cups strawberries.
• Mixed Berry Crumb Bars: Use 2 cups diced strawberries, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup raspberries for the 4 cups of fruit.
• Peach Strawberry Crumb Bars: Use 2 cups diced strawberries and 2 cups peeled and diced peaches in place of the 4 cups strawberries.
• Lemon Strawberry Crumb Bars: Add 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest to the crumb mixture along with the dry ingredients.

More Strawberry Recipes to Try

• Strawberry Pretzel Salad
• Strawberry Cream Cake
• Strawberry Jello Pie
• Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
• Strawberry Cheesecake

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tag me @laurens_latest.