These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars have a layer of fresh strawberries that sits in between a buttery oatmeal crust and crumble topping. With less than 10 minutes of prep and using simple pantry ingredients, this recipe comes together so quickly!
This recipe was originally published in June of 2020, but was updated on May 14, 2021 with newer content and fresh pictures.
It is officially strawberry season here in the Pacific Northwest! All of the local fruit stands are open and bursting with the juiciest and most delicious strawberries. I'm excited to share some tasty strawberry recipes with you, including these oatmeal bars.
They have a buttery oatmeal crust and crumble, with sweetness from the honey and brown sugar. The texture is kind of like that of a chewy granola bar, while having a refreshing strawberry filling in the middle.
What's great about these strawberry oatmeal bars is that they stay soft and chewy for many days after you bake them, so you don't have to worry about them getting hard. Just keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and you'll have some delicious homemade oatmeal bars for the entire week!
These bars are perfect for breakfast, on the go, as a midafternoon snack, or even dessert. In my opinion, you could have these any time of the day!
If you like any form of store-bought fruit bars, such as Strawberry Nutrigrain bars, then you'll LOVE these strawberry bars. 🙂
And if you haven't already, you have got to try these Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes! Can you tell they are my favorite fruit yet?
These Oatmeal Bars are:
- Easy and simple to make.
- Require only pantry staple ingredients.
- Bursting with strawberry flavor.
- Soft, chewy, and stay that way for days!
The crust and crumble topping are made together in one bowl and has just a hint of cinnamon. The chewiness from the oats mixed with the melted butter creates an irrisistable oatmeal bar that will have you back for seconds. Not to mention the strawberry filling!
They're almost like a strawberry crisp, but in bar form, which makes them really easy to eat on the go. You can easily pack these bars up with you to bring on a picnic, for a family gathering, barbeque, or wherever else you need to be!
My favorite way to consume these bars is cold right out of the refrigerator, but if you'd like, you could reheat them in the microwave. Both are great options.
Also, if you're more of a chocolate fan, definintely check out these Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars.
Baking Tips Before Starting:
- Baking Pan: Line your 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little hanging over the sides to serve as a "handle." This makes it extremely easy to remove the bars from the pan once they're cooled. Then grease with non-stick spray.
- Oatmeal Crust/Topping: Reserve 1/2 cup of the oatmeal crumble to use as the topping.
- Chilling: Once the bars are removed from the oven allow them to cool for 15 minutes before placing them into the refrigerator. I recommend they chill for 1 hour before slicing them into bars.
- Storing: Keep the bars covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Ingredients Needed:
Simple pantry ingredients are all you need to make this recipe. Remember, the oatmeal crumble is used for both the crust and the topping.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: Use old-fashioned oats (also called rolled oats). Do not substitute them for quick oats.
- All-Purpose Flour: Adds structure to the crumble and helps to thicken the strawberry filling.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds flavor and binds the ingredients together.
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness.
- Honey: Also adds sweetness and allows the ingredients to mix together more easily.
- Egg: One large egg helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Cinnamon: Adds flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Just a little is used in both the crumble and strawberry filling.
- Salt: Enhances all of the other flavors.
- Strawberries: Bright red strawberries are what we want. The riper they are the sweeter and more flavorful the filling will be.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a touch of tartness.
How To Make Strawberry Oatmeal Bars:
- Oatmeal Crust/Topping: In a mixing bowl, mix together the oats, flour, melted butter, brown sugar, honey, beaten egg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined. Reserve a 1/2 cup of the oat mixture for the crumble topping and press the rest of the oat mixture onto the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Strawberry Filling: In a small bowl toss together the strawberries, flour, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until combined. Pour on top of the oat crust and spread out until even.
- Bake: Evenly sprinkle the 1/2 cup of remaining oatmeal mixture over the top of the strawberry filling. Bake for 25-30 minutes, just until the top begins to brown. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Bright red strawberries are what we want. The riper they are the sweeter and more flavorful the filling will be.
I have not tried frozen strawberries yet, but they should work just fine. If you try frozen, let me know in the comments below how they worked for you!
Yes you can! Simply multiply all of the ingredient measurements by two and bake in a 9x13-inch pan.
Keep the strawberry bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you!
Enjoy your Strawberry Oat Bars! Let me know how you liked them below. 🙂
Happy Baking!
More Strawberry Desserts:
- Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
- Strawberry Fudge
- Mini Strawberry Pies
- Strawberry Banana Bread
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients:
Oatmeal Crust/Topping:
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Strawberry Filling:
- 2 cups strawberries, diced
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little to hang over the sides, serving as a "handle." Then grease with non-stick spray.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the oats, flour, melted butter, brown sugar, honey, beaten egg, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.
- Reserve a 1/2 cup of the oat mixture for the crumble topping and press the rest of the oat mixture onto the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing it down with your fingers or a wooden spoon until even.
- In a small bowl toss together the strawberries, flour, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until combined. Pour on top of the oat crust and spread out until even.
- Evenly sprinkle the 1/2 cup of oat crumbles over the top of the strawberry filling. Bake for 35-40 minutes, just until the top begins to brown. Cool for 15 minutes on the counter before placing it into the refrigerator. Allow the bars to completely cool before slicing into bars.
Notes:
Yum! What a delicious recipe. Strawberry oats is such a great combo. Thanks for sharing. -Danielle
Thank you!