Welcome Spring with a truly delightful and irresistible dessert: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars. This recipe offers a spectacular fusion of flavors and textures, featuring a vibrant, sweet-tart strawberry rhubarb filling nestled between a buttery, crunchy oatmeal crumble topping and a chewy, cookie-like base. It’s the quintessential treat to celebrate the season’s bounty, promising a burst of fresh fruit flavor in every bite.
Rhubarb, with its unique tangy profile, might not be a common ingredient in every kitchen, particularly in regions like the Middle East where it’s less frequently found. However, once you experience its culinary magic, especially when paired with the sweetness of strawberries, you’ll undoubtedly become a fan. My own journey with rhubarb began with these incredible rhubarb scones, and since then, I’ve been completely captivated by its versatility and deliciousness. Expect to see this marvelous stalk appear in many more of my recipes!
These Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars are a dessert that truly shines on its own. Each bar offers a perfect balance of fruitiness, sweetness, and a hint of tartness. For an elevated experience, try them warm with a generous scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cold ice cream cascading over the warm, fruity crumble creates an absolutely divine contrast in temperature and texture, adding an unparalleled richness that makes this dessert an unforgettable indulgence. Imagine that blissful combination – pure perfection!
Beyond being a show-stopping dessert, these crumble bars are surprisingly versatile. We’ve often enjoyed them as a quick, satisfying breakfast bar alongside a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Their wholesome oats and fruity filling make them a delightful start to the day, proving that delicious treats can indeed be enjoyed at any time.
As the weather warms and longer days arrive, it’s that wonderful time of year when farmers’ markets and grocery stores are overflowing with an abundance of fresh berries and seasonal fruits. This natural bounty serves as endless inspiration for creating light, flavorful, and fruit-packed spring and summertime treats. Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars are a fantastic way to harness the freshness of the season and bring its vibrant flavors into your home.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bar Recipe
This recipe stands out for its simplicity and incredibly rewarding outcome. You don’t need to be an experienced baker to achieve impressive results. The process is straightforward, yielding a dessert with layers of lusciousness: a super fruity, perfectly balanced sweet-tart filling encased between a wonderfully crunchy, buttery oatmeal topping and a rich, chewy, cookie-like bottom crust. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will impress everyone.
The Perfect Blend of Flavors: Strawberries and Rhubarb
The magic of these bars lies in the iconic pairing of strawberries and rhubarb. Strawberries bring their undeniable sweetness and juicy, vibrant flavor, while rhubarb contributes its distinctive tartness and firm texture. Together, they create a filling that is bright, tangy, and beautifully sweet, making for a truly dynamic and irresistible flavor profile. This combination is a testament to how contrasting ingredients can come together to form something truly spectacular.
Effortless Baking for Everyone
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its accessibility. Whether you’re a novice baker or a seasoned pro, you’ll find these bars incredibly easy to prepare. The crumb mixture acts as both the base and the topping, simplifying the process and reducing prep time. There’s no fussy pastry dough to deal with, just a simple mix-and-press method that guarantees success every time. This straightforward approach makes it an ideal recipe for a spontaneous baking session or a delightful project with the kids.
Let’s Make Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars: Step-by-Step Guide
Creating these delightful bars involves two main components: the incredibly flavorful crumb layer and the juicy, fruit-packed filling. Follow these simple steps for a perfect dessert:
Step 1: Crafting the Golden Oatmeal Crumb Layer
The foundation and crown of these bars come from a simple yet sensational oatmeal crumble. This layer provides the essential texture and buttery richness that complements the fruit filling so beautifully.
- First, gather your dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl. Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Use your fingertips to thoroughly mix these ingredients, ensuring any clumps of brown sugar are broken down for an even distribution. This step is crucial for achieving a uniform texture throughout the crumble.
- Next, gently pour the melted butter into the dry mixture. Stir well until all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened and a crumbly texture forms. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs, light and airy yet capable of holding together when pressed. The butter binds everything together, creating that signature rich flavor and tender consistency.
Step 2: Assembling the Layers for Baking
Once your crumb mixture and fruit filling are ready, it’s time to bring them together into a harmonious bar. This layering process is quick and sets the stage for a perfectly baked dessert.
- Prepare your baking dish: Line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This makes it incredibly easy to lift the cooled bars out of the pan for clean, precise cutting.
- Take two-thirds of your prepared crumb mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of the lined pan. This will form the chewy, delicious base of your crumble bars. Ensure it’s tightly packed to prevent crumbling when sliced.
- Now, prepare your luscious strawberry rhubarb filling. In a separate bowl, combine the hulled and diced strawberries, diced fresh rhubarb, lemon juice, and granulated sugar. The lemon juice adds a bright counterpoint to the sweetness and helps enhance the fruit’s natural flavors.
- In a small separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch into the lemon juice to create a slurry. This cornstarch mixture is essential for thickening the fruit juices during baking, preventing a soggy bottom and ensuring the filling is perfectly set. Pour this slurry over the fruit mixture and mix everything well until the fruit is evenly coated.
- Carefully pour the vibrant strawberry rhubarb filling over the pressed crumb base in your baking dish, spreading it evenly to cover the entire surface.
- Finally, sprinkle the remaining one-third of the oat mixture evenly over the fruit filling. This forms the irresistible, crispy crumble topping that gives these bars their signature texture and charm.
Step 3: Baking and Cooling for Perfection
The final step is to bake your assembled bars to golden perfection, allowing the flavors to meld and the textures to develop.
Bake in a preheated oven until the top crumb layer is beautifully browned and the fruit filling is bubbling gently. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and, crucially, allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before attempting to cut them. Cooling is paramount; it allows the filling to set properly, ensuring clean, intact bars. Rushing this step will result in a messy, crumbling dessert. Once fully cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang, slice into individual servings, and prepare to enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars
Achieving the best results with your crumble bars is easy with a few helpful tips:
- Use Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients: While frozen fruit can work, fresh strawberries and rhubarb, especially when in season, will yield the most vibrant flavors and best texture.
- Don’t Overwork the Crumble: When mixing the butter into the dry ingredients for the crumble, mix just until combined and crumbly. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher crust.
- Press the Base Firmly: A well-packed base prevents the bars from falling apart when cut. Use the bottom of a glass or your knuckles to ensure a compact, even layer.
- Cool Completely: This cannot be stressed enough! Allowing the bars to cool fully (for at least 2-3 hours, or even in the refrigerator) is vital for the filling to set and for the bars to hold their shape when sliced.
- Adjust Sweetness: Rhubarb’s tartness can vary. Taste your rhubarb (raw, if safe for you to do so, or just consider its general reputation) and adjust the sugar in the filling slightly if you prefer a sweeter or more tart outcome.
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Lining the pan with parchment paper (with an overhang) makes removal and cleanup incredibly easy. Do not skip this step!
- Even Spreading: Ensure both the filling and the top crumble are spread evenly for consistent baking and flavor in every bite.
Creative Variations & Serving Suggestions
These Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars are incredibly adaptable. While the classic strawberry rhubarb pairing is exquisite, feel free to experiment with other fruits. Mixed berries, apples, peaches, or even a combination can create equally delicious crumble bars. The base recipe remains largely the same, offering a canvas for your culinary creativity. For a textural twist, add chopped nuts (like almonds or pecans) to the crumble topping.
Serve them:
- Warm with Ice Cream: As mentioned, this is a top-tier combination. A scoop of vanilla, strawberry, or even a cinnamon ice cream would be fantastic.
- With Whipped Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream adds a light, airy touch.
- For Breakfast or Brunch: Their wholesome ingredients make them a hearty and satisfying option alongside your morning coffee or tea.
- As a Snack: Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up.
- Packed for Picnics: Easy to transport and enjoy outdoors.
Storage Information
Properly stored, these Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars can be enjoyed for days:
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator: For longer freshness, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5-7 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then placed in a freezer-safe bag or container, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently reheat in the oven.
They’re the perfect treat for spring and summertime, an all-time favorite dessert that can be easily made with whatever fruit you have on hand. These crumble bars are not just a recipe; they’re an invitation to savor the simple pleasures of homemade baking.
I genuinely hope you’ll adore this recipe as much as we do. If you do make these delightful Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars, please remember to share your creations! Snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I absolutely love seeing your culinary masterpieces on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Your feedback and shared experiences truly brighten my day.
Don’t want to miss a single delicious recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira’s Pantry newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox, packed with loads of tips, tricks, and exciting surprises! And be sure to stay connected with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and culinary inspiration.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars
Print
Pin
Rate
Ingredients
- 1 ½ 160g cups old fashioned rolled oats.
- 1 ⅓ cup 175g all purpose flour.
- ¼ teaspoon salt.
- ½ 100g cup brown sugar.
- ½ 110g cup granulated sugar.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda.
- ¾ cup 170g unsalted Butter, melted.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
For the filling:
- 1 16oz packet hulled and diced strawberries.
- 1 ½ cups diced fresh rhubarb.
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice.
- ⅓ cup 70g granulated sugar.
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch.
Instructions
- Make the crumb layer:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line a 9×9- inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine first 6 ingredients well.
- Add extract to the melted butter in a separate bowl and mix.
- Pour the butter mixture on the dry ingredients and mix them all well.
- Press ⅔ the mixture into the bottom of your baking dish to form the base.
Prepare the filling:
- In a bowl, add strawberries, rhubarb and sugar.
- In a small bowl dissolve cornstarch into the lemon juice the pour on top of the strawberry mixture.
- Mix everything well together then pour it onto the base in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top evenly.
- Bake in the oven for 35 minutes or until top is nicely browned.
- Cool down, cut and serve.
Notes
Calories from Fat 149
Recipe adapted from Cookingclassy