Get ready to discover your new favorite treat! These Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars are the perfect blend of sweet, juicy strawberries and a buttery, crisp crumble topping. They are incredibly easy to make and are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a light dessert. Whether you’re using fresh summer strawberries or frozen ones, this recipe delivers a burst of flavor in every single bite. Forget complicated desserts; this is the straightforward, delicious recipe you’ve been looking for.
We’ve designed this guide to be foolproof, giving you that perfect golden-brown crumble and a jammy strawberry center without any sogginess. Let’s get baking!
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars
These bars are a true crowd-pleaser for so many reasons. The buttery shortbread-style crust doubles as the crumble topping, which means less prep work and fewer dishes for you. The vibrant strawberry filling is sweet, slightly tart, and has the perfect jammy consistency once baked. They are versatile enough for any occasion, from a quick morning bite to an elegant addition to a brunch spread. Plus, they make your kitchen smell absolutely divine!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple pantry staples to create something truly special. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
For the Crust and Crumble Topping
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for our buttery base and topping.
Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture in the crumble.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds a wonderful caramel-like sweetness and moisture.
Granulated Sugar: For that classic, clean sweetness.
Baking Powder: Gives a slight lift, keeping the bars from being too dense.
Salt: A pinch of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s cold and cubed. This is the secret to a tender, crumbly texture.
For the Strawberry Filling
Strawberries: Fresh or frozen both work beautifully. If using fresh, hull and slice them.
Granulated Sugar: To sweeten the filling. You can adjust based on the sweetness of your berries.
Cornstarch: This is key to thickening the filling and preventing a soggy crust.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the flavor of the strawberries.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla adds a lovely warmth and depth.
How to Make Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars (Step-by-Step)
Follow these simple steps to create the most amazing strawberry oat bars you’ve ever tasted. We’ll walk you through it from start to finish.
1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven
First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. This overhang will act as a sling, making it easy to lift the bars out later.
2. Mix the Crumble Mixture
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
The secret to perfect bars is letting them cool completely before cutting.
3. Form the Crust
Set aside about 1 cup of the crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. This forms the sturdy base for your snack bars.
4. Create the Strawberry Filling
In a separate medium bowl, gently toss the sliced strawberries with the granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir until the strawberries are evenly coated. Spread this delicious strawberry mixture evenly over the crust.
5. Add the Topping and Bake
Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the strawberry layer. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the fruit filling is bubbly and the crumble topping is a beautiful golden brown. Your kitchen will smell incredible!
6. Cool Completely
This is the hardest part: waiting! Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. This step is crucial for the filling to set properly, ensuring clean cuts. If you rush it, the bars will be messy. Once cooled, use the parchment paper sling to lift them out and cut them into squares.
Pro Tips for the Best Crumble Bars
Want to take your Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars from great to absolutely perfect? Follow these expert tips.
Use Cold Butter: Do not soften your butter! Using cold butter is essential for creating the tender, crumbly texture that makes these bars so irresistible.
Don’t Overmix: When cutting the butter in, stop when you have a crumbly, sandy texture with some larger pieces. This helps create pockets of steam for a flakier result.
Let Them Cool: I can’t stress this enough. For clean, perfect squares, the bars must be completely cool. For even better results, chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before slicing.
Look at that perfect, buttery crumble topping!
Variations and Substitutions
While this recipe is fantastic as is, feel free to customize it! Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to the crumble for a warm spice note. You could also swap out the strawberries for other fruits like in these Blueberry Oat Snack Bars or even try our popular Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies for another fruity treat. For a different flavor profile, check out these amazing Lemon Cookie Bars.
Storing Your Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars
You can store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you’d like them to last longer, they will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. They are delicious served chilled or at room temperature.
Yes, absolutely! You can use frozen strawberries without thawing them first. The baking time might need to be increased by a few minutes, but they will turn out just as delicious.
The key to preventing a soggy crust is the cornstarch in the filling, which thickens the fruit juices as it bakes. Also, ensure you press the crust down firmly and evenly into the pan before adding the filling.
These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. They are delicious both chilled and at room temperature.
For an extra crispy topping, make sure your butter is very cold when you cut it into the flour mixture. This creates small pockets of butter that melt during baking, resulting in a crispier, flakier texture.
Yes, you can make these gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend and using certified gluten-free rolled oats.
More Delicious Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed these snack bars, you’ll love exploring more of our easy baking recipes. From cookies to cakes, we have something for every sweet tooth! These bars are a perfect example of our simple but delicious sweet treat recipes.
We hope you love making these delicious Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars! They are a true testament to how simple ingredients can create something extraordinary. If you make them, please leave a comment below or share a picture with us on Pinterest. Happy baking!
You won't believe how easy these Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars are to make!
Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars Recipe
FL Recipes
Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars (The Easiest Recipe!)
These Strawberry Crumble Snack Bars feature a buttery oat crust, a juicy fresh strawberry filling, and a crunchy crumble topping. An easy and delicious recipe perfect for a snack or dessert.
4cupsstrawberriesfresh or frozen, hulled and sliced
0.5cupgranulated sugar
3tbspcornstarch
1tbsplemon juicefreshly squeezed
1tspvanilla extract
Equipment
1 8x8 inch baking pan
1 Large Mixing Bowl
Parchment Paper
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Add the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Set aside 1 cup of the crumble mixture. Press the remaining mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.
In a separate bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir gently to coat.
Spread the strawberry filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of crumble mixture over the top.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting. For best results, chill for 30 minutes before slicing into squares.
Nutrition
Calories: 220kcalProtein: 2gFat: 11gFiber: 2g
Notes
For the best texture: Ensure your butter is very cold before incorporating it into the dry ingredients. Cooling is key: Do not skip the cooling step! This allows the filling to set properly, ensuring clean, beautiful bars.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
