Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars

 Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars are a delightful dessert that combines sweet strawberry filling with a buttery, oat-based crumble topping. They’re simple to make and perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients:

For the crust and crumble topping:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the strawberry filling:

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

2. Make the crumble mixture:

In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla extract.

Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumble mixture for the topping. Press the remaining crumble mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.

3. Prepare the strawberry filling:

In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and the strawberries release their juices, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in the vanilla extract and remove from heat. Let the strawberry filling cool slightly.

4. Assemble the bars:

Pour the strawberry filling over the crust layer in the baking pan, spreading it evenly.

Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture evenly over the top of the strawberry filling.

5. Bake:

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

6. Cool and cut:

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. For best results, refrigerate for an hour to allow the bars to set before serving.

These Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars are a perfect combination of tangy strawberry filling and sweet

, buttery oat crumble. They make a great snack, dessert, or breakfast treat!