On the lookout for the right spring dessert or a candy afternoon snack? These Strawberry Oat Bars are the last word crowd-pleaser. That includes a buttery oat crust, a vibrant lemon-kissed strawberry filling, and a crunchy almond topping, they’re extremely simple to make and even more durable to cease consuming. Whether or not you’re utilizing up a recent berry haul or searching for a kid-friendly baking challenge, these bars are a staple recipe you’ll come again to time and again.
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Bars:
- Recent & Zesty: The lemon zest makes the recent strawberries pop.
- Good Texture: A mixture of chewy rolled oats and crunchy sliced almonds.
- Make-Forward Pleasant: They keep scrumptious within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Versatile: Serve them as a dessert with vanilla ice cream or a cheeky breakfast deal with.
Skilled Suggestions for Success:
- Chilly Butter vs. Room Temp: For the perfect “crumble” texture, use chilly, cubed butter. If the butter is just too delicate, the crust will likely be extra like a cookie and fewer like a shortbread.
- Don’t Skimp on the Press: When forming the underside layer, press down firmly. Use the underside of a measuring cup to get a flat, compressed base so the bars don’t collapse once you decide them up.
- Zest Greatest: All the time zest the lemon earlier than juicing it (for those who plan to make use of the juice for one thing else). Solely zest the yellow half; the white pith beneath is bitter.
Substitutions:
Recent Strawberries: Use frozen strawberries (thaw and drain extra liquid first) and even raspberries/blueberries.
All-Function Flour: Use a 1:1 Gluten-Free flour mix or entire wheat pastry flour.
Previous Usual Oats: Fast oats work in a pinch, however the texture will likely be much less chewy. Keep away from steel-cut oats.
Brown Sugar: Coconut sugar or additional granulated sugar works properly.
Sliced Almonds: Swap for chopped pecans, walnuts, or shredded coconut—or omit solely for a nut-free model.
Butter: For a vegan model, use a agency vegan butter stick or chilled coconut oil (strong state).
Regularly Requested Questions
Can I exploit strawberry jam as a substitute of recent fruit?
Sure! If you’re quick on recent berries, you may unfold about 1 cup of high-quality strawberry preserves over the bottom. Skip the cornstarch and additional sugar if utilizing jam, because it’s already thickened and sweetened.
Why are my bars falling aside?
The commonest offender is chopping them whereas they’re nonetheless heat. The fruit filling wants time to “set,” and the butter within the crust must agency up. Allow them to cool for at the very least 1–2 hours.
Can I freeze these bars?
Completely. Wrap particular person squares in plastic wrap and retailer them in a freezer-safe bag for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day or at room temperature for half-hour.
How do I get clear slices?
For “bakery-style” clear edges, line your pan with parchment paper in order that it hangs over the edges (making a “sling”). As soon as the bars are fully chilly, raise the entire block out onto a chopping board and use an extended, sharp knife to slice in a single clear movement.
Extra Fruity Dessert Recipes:
Strawberry Oat Bars
That includes a buttery oat crust, a vibrant lemon-kissed strawberry filling, and a crunchy almond topping, these Strawberry Oat Bars are extremely simple to make and even more durable to cease consuming.
Servings: 9
Strawberry Filling
- 2 cups chopped recent strawberries about half-inch items
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- zest of 1 lemon
Oat Base + Crumble Topping
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Preheat the oven to 350F and coat a 9×9-inch pan with nonstick cook dinner spray or line with parchment paper.
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For the strawberry filling: In a small mixing bowl stir collectively the diced strawberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon zest till strawberries are well-coated. Put aside.
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In a medium mixing bowl whisk collectively flour, oats, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Lower within the butter utilizing a fork or your fingers till you will have a crumbly combination with pea-sized items. Save 1 1/4 cups of the crumble crust combination and put aside.
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Pour the remainder of the combination into the baking pan and press into an excellent, flat base layer together with your arms.
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Pour the strawberries combination (together with the juices) onto the oat base layer within the pan. Unfold the strawberry combination into an excellent layer.
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Stir the sliced almonds into the reserved crumble combination and sprinkle evenly over the strawberries.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes till crumble crust topping is golden brown and strawberries are set and effervescent.
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Take away from oven and let fully cool within the pan earlier than chopping into squares. You may as well place them within the fridge to assist cool sooner.
