Description
Delightfully sweet and tangy Strawberry Rhubarb Bars featuring a buttery oat crust and topping, filled with fresh strawberry and rhubarb mixture. Perfect as a dessert or snack, these bars combine a crisp texture with luscious fruit filling, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Filling
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
- 2 cups rhubarb, diced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease removal of the bars.
- Prepare the Crust and Topping: In a large bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture forms a crumbly texture. Press two-thirds of this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create an even crust layer. Reserve the remaining third for the topping.
- Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, mix together diced strawberries, diced rhubarb, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Combine well to evenly coat the fruit and activate the cornstarch as a thickener.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread the fruit filling evenly over the crust layer in the baking dish. Then sprinkle the reserved oat mixture evenly over the top as the crumble topping.
- Bake: Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly and thickened.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan to allow the filling to set. Once cooled, cut into 16 bars and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the fruit filling is fully cooled before cutting to prevent leakage.
- You can substitute frozen strawberries and rhubarb if fresh are not available; thaw and drain excess liquid before use.
- For a nuttier flavor, add chopped nuts to the topping mixture.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
