Description
These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars combine a tender, buttery oat base with sweet strawberry preserves and fresh diced strawberries for a delightful treat. Perfect for a snack or dessert, these bars balance the heartiness of oats and almond flour with a fruity, jammy layer. Baked to golden perfection, they are easy to prepare and make a delicious homemade snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups quick oats
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, room temperature)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 18-ounce jar strawberry preserves
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries (diced)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch cake pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using an electric hand mixer, beat the room-temperature unsalted butter with granulated sugar and light brown sugar until the mixture is fluffy and light.
- Add Flour Mixture: Gradually add about one-third of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar, beating on medium speed until incorporated. Add the remaining flour mixture and continue mixing until a rough dough forms.
- Incorporate Oats: Add the quick oats to the dough and knead gently with your hands until oats are evenly distributed throughout.
- Press Base Layer: Take approximately two-thirds of the dough and press it firmly into the base of the prepared 9×13 pan, creating an even layer.
- Add Strawberry Layer: Evenly spread the strawberry preserves over the pressed dough base. Scatter the diced fresh strawberries evenly across the preserve layer.
- Add Crumble Topping: Crumble the remaining one-third of the dough over the top of the strawberry layer, distributing it evenly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the crumble on top turns golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan and place on a cooling rack. Let the bars cool to room temperature before cutting into 16 bars. Serve at room temperature and enjoy.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature for easier creaming with the sugars.
- For extra flavor, you can substitute strawberry preserves with raspberry or mixed berry jams.
- To prevent sticking, ensure the parchment paper fully covers the pan edges for easy removal of bars.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Using quick oats ensures the bars have a tender texture rather than chewy.
