Description
Delight in these delicious Strawberry Crumb Bars featuring a buttery crumbly crust and a luscious fresh strawberry filling. Perfectly balanced with sweet and tangy flavors, these bars bake to a golden finish and are an ideal treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Crumble
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup very cold butter (8 tablespoons or 1 stick)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking your crumb bars evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving the edges to hang over the sides. This setup helps you easily lift the bars out after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt thoroughly for an even distribution of leavening and flavors.
- Cut in Butter: Using a fork, pastry cutter, or food processor, cut the very cold butter into the flour mixture until you achieve pea-sized crumbs. This step ensures a crumbly texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat the egg in a small bowl or measuring cup, then add it along with vanilla to the flour and butter mixture. Mix until it forms a crumbly dough.
- Form Bottom Crust: Press half of the crumbly dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a sturdy base for the filling.
- Prepare Strawberry Filling: In another bowl, mix the chopped strawberries with 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. This mixture thickens during baking to prevent a soggy crust.
- Assemble: Spoon the strawberry filling evenly over the pressed dough base in the pan.
- Add Top Crumble: Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the strawberry layer to cover it.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until the top layer is lightly golden. Note that ovens may vary; some may require slightly less baking time.
- Cool and Serve: Cool the bars completely in the pan, then refrigerate if desired before cutting into squares for clean slices and chilled serving.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is very cold to achieve the characteristic crumbly texture.
- Chilling the bars before cutting helps in cleaner slices and better texture.
- If using frozen strawberries, thaw and drain excess liquid before mixing.
- Adjust sugar amount in filling based on the sweetness of your strawberries.
- This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch pan, adjusting baking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Strawberry crumb bars, strawberry dessert, crumbly crust, fresh strawberry bars, summer dessert, easy baking recipe
