Baked strawberry desserts are so underrated, and these Strawberry Bars deserve a spot on your easy recipe list. Each layer is homemade and baked in a single casserole dish until the top is golden and the delectable strawberry jam is bubbly. You get a variety of textures and flavors that sing!
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 50 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 16
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet and fruity with bright strawberry flavor balanced by a buttery, lightly crisp crust.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Delicious on their own or paired with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a hot cup of coffee or tea.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, these bars keep well and can be made 1-2 days ahead.
Summarize and Save This Content On
This is my go-to sweet treat during strawberry season. Beautifully ripe strawberries shine in these strawberry crumble bars. The crust and the topping come from the same mixture, saving even more time. Plus, there's no precooking involved, making this an ideal dessert choice if you want to impress a crowd but don't bake often (or prefer recipes that are minimal work).
If you're looking for more tasty dessert bars, you should try butterscotch caramel cashew bars and apple pie bars.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's baked in just one pan: This entire dessert is baked in one casserole dish, making clean up and serving a breeze, just like these snickerdoodle bars.
- You don't need to cook the jam: With this recipe, you get a lovely jammy filling without cooking on the stovetop first. The oven does all the work!
- It feeds a crowd easily: These strawberry bars are made in a 9x13 pan and serve 16 people! If you like, double it, and then you'll have plenty for a large event.
Ingredients
If you're wondering which ingredients are most important in these strawberry bars, they're listed below. They ensure a perfect filling, crust, and crunchy crumble topping.
- Butter: Your butter must be cold to achieve the right crust and topping consistency. Use it straight from the refrigerator for the best result. I also recommend unsalted butter, so you can control the amount of salt in the recipe.
- Strawberries: Fresh or frozen strawberries work fine in these strawberry dessert bars. Thaw and drain frozen berries thoroughly to avoid extra moisture in the filling. If you go fresh, use ripe but firm berries.
- Cornstarch: This is important in the filling of the strawberry bars because it's responsible for creating a thick, jam-like consistency. I also use it in these easy blueberry pie bars for the same reason. You definitely don't want to skip it!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Use almond extract: Add ½ teaspoon of almond extract to add a subtle nuttiness that actually complements the strawberries perfectly.
- Try some raspberries: Swap ½ cup of strawberries with raspberries to give it more of a mixed berry flavor. You will love these raspberry cookies too!
- Add a hint of citrus: Some orange or lemon zest brightens the filling without changing the flavor too much. About 1 tablespoon maximum is great!
How to Make Strawberry Bars
To get started on this strawberry bars recipe, preheat your oven to 375° F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
Step 1: Prepare and add the crust. Combine the dry ingredients and then cut the cold butter into the mixture until it forms coarse crumbs. Press about 3 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 2: Add the strawberry mixture. Combine the strawberries with sugar and cornstarch until they're evenly coated. Spread them over the crust in the pan.
Step 3: Sprinkle the topping. Take the remaining crumble mixture and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the berries.
Step 4: Bake and cool. Pop the pan into the oven and bake the strawberry bars with fresh strawberries for 50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the top is a light golden brown. Enjoy a slice cooled with a strawberry banana milkshake.
Expert Tips
- Fix a runny filling: If the strawberry filling is still runny even after cooling, pop the bars back into the oven. The cornstarch thickens when it's brought to a full simmer, and, likely, they weren't baked long enough.
- Slice when cooled or chilled: Allow the strawberry streusel bars to cool completely before you slice them. This helps to set the filling, giving you cleaner pieces.
- Storage directions: You can store these bars at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat the bars: Reheat leftover bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to enjoy it warm.
If you enjoy these strawberry crumb bars, you'll love this strawberry crisp.
Serving Suggestions
- A scoop of ice cream, like strawberry banana ice cream or peanut butter and jelly ice cream go perfectly with a warm strawberry bar.
- Enjoy a strawberry adult beverage like a strawberries and cream martini or a warm drink like cinnamon hot chocolate on the side.
- Prepare a super simple dinner like Philly cheesesteak casserole and enjoy strawberry bars for dessert.
Recipe FAQs
If your oven runs hot or if the strawberry bars are too close to the heating element, the streusel topping can brown or burn before the dessert is fully cooked. Keep them in the middle of the oven and keep an eye on it if you know your oven runs on the hotter side. I also recommend tenting the pan with foil, if needed.
There are several reasons that this may happen. Slicing the bars too early and an underbaked crust can cause your strawberry fruit bars to be soggy. I recommend placing them in the fridge to chill after they cool. After about 1-2 hours, they will be a bit firmer.
Yes! Wrap it whole or wrap cut bars with plastic wrap and place in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or on the counter for about an hour.
More Delicious Strawberry Desserts
Do you like strawberry desserts? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Strawberry Bars
Ingredients
Crust and Topping
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter cubed
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Strawberry Filling
- 16 ounces fresh or frozen strawberries chopped
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder.
- Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the egg and mix until the dough comes together.
- Press about 3 cups of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the remaining crumbs for the topping.
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped strawberries, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir until the berries are evenly coated.
- Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the pressed crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the strawberry layer.
- Bake for 50 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden. If the topping browns too quickly, tent with foil.
- Cool completely before slicing into 16 bars.
Notes
- Allow the strawberry bars to cool completely before you slice them to allow the filling to fully set.
- Bake your strawberry dessert bars in the middle of the oven and not near the heating element to prevent the topping from burning. Tenting the pan with foil helps, too.
- Feel free to slice and wrap your cooled bars and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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