Strawberry Oat Crumb Bars

These easy Strawberry Oat Crumb Bars feature a rich, buttery oat crust, a vibrant strawberry filling, and a golden crumb topping. The ultimate Strawberry Oat Crumb Bars recipe for a quick dessert or breakfast treat!

Strawberry Oat Crumb Bars

These bars are the perfect balance of sweet, jammy fruit and a golden, buttery oat crunch. They come together quickly and travel beautifully for picnics or potlucks.

Ingredients

For the Crust & Crumb Topping:

• 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup packed light brown sugar

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Strawberry Filling:

• 3 cups fresh strawberries, diced

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp cornstarch

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions

1. Prep the Oven and Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the sides so you can easily lift the bars out later.

2. Make the Oat Mixture

In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt until no clumps remain. Pour in the melted butter and vanilla extract. Stir the mixture thoroughly with a fork or spatula until it forms uniform, wet crumbs.

3. Press the Base

Transfer about two-thirds of the oat mixture into your prepared baking pan. Press it down into an even, firm layer using the bottom of a measuring cup or your fingers to form the bottom crust.

4. Mix the Strawberry Filling

In a separate medium bowl, gently toss the diced strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice together until the fruit is evenly coated.

5. Layer and Bake

Spread the strawberry filling evenly over the pressed crust. Take the remaining one-third of the oat crumb mixture and scatter it loosely over the top of the strawberries, leaving some fruit peeking through.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the fruit filling is bubbling gently around the edges and the crumb topping has turned a beautiful golden brown color.

6. Cool and Serve

Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. For the cleanest squares, chill the bars in the refrigerator for about an hour before slicing. Lift them out using the parchment overhang, cut into squares, and enjoy!