Dessert

Strawberry Rhubarb Oat Bars

Delicious and buttery these strawberry rhubarb oat bars are a great way to kick of your summer baking! Easy to make and so tasty!

To recipe
strawberry rhubarb oat bars cut into slices

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These Strawberry Rhubarb Oat Bars are filled with chunks of fresh strawberries and rhubarb and topped with a buttery oatmeal crumble.

strawberry rhubarb oat bars cut into slices

I have so many recipes for baked bars on the blog because they're usually really simple to make and perfect to snack on! Some of my favorites are these Caramel Butter Cake Bars or if you prefer really simple and no fuss, my Apple Pie Bars are what you should be making this week!

But let's focus on this latest recipe, Strawberry and rhubarb is a traditional combination because the sweet strawberries balance out those chunks of super tart rhubarb. Rhubarb is definitely seasonal and I know a lot of people who aren't keen on it, but paired with another ingredient, rhubarb is the perfect summer dessert.

How to make strawberry rhubarb oat bars

Making The Shortbread Style Base

  1. Mixing the dough Combine the flour, powdered sugar, milk and butter until a dough forms.
  2. Getting the dough into the pan Transfer the dough to your prepared baking pan and using your fingers and palm of your hand, press the dough out towards the edges of the pan until the bottom of the pan is evenly covered.
  3. Baking the base Bake in the oven and prepare the filling as the base is baking.
  4. Preparing the filling Combine the strawberries and rhubarb with the rest of the filling ingredients and stir well.
  5. Making the crumble topping This is a mixture of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter and combined together. The mixture gets sprinkled over the fruit and baked until golden brown.

FAQ's about rhubarb

Is rhubarb healthy? High in antioxidants and fiber, rhubarb is good for you in moderation.

I heard rhubarb can be poisonous, is that true? The rhubarb stalks are fine to eat but the large green leaves of the plant are toxic and should be avoided, yikes!

How do you grow rhubarb? Rhubarb is grown from a seed and then it will bloom into something  that resembles a large bush. It's only in season for a few months of the year and can be hard to find in the regular grocery stores.  

Can I freeze rhubarb? Definitely! You can even add it to smoothies or frozen drinks in the summer.

Do you need to peel rhubarb? No you don't need to peel your rhubarb. A good rinse under the tap is recommended though.  

This recipe has been updated from its original post date.

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Recipe

Delicious and buttery these strawberry rhubarb oat bars are a great way to kick of your summer baking! Easy to make and so tasty, they're perfect for a quick snack or picnic potluck!

Course:
Dessert
COOKing TIME:
50 minutes
Total TIME:
75 minutes
CUISINE:
American
PREP TIME:
25 minutes
SERVINGS:
12

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces butter, at room temperature

FOR THE FILLING

  • 4 cups sliced strawberries
  • 3 cups sliced rhubarb
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

FOR THE TOPPING

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter

Ingredient Swaps

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour , powdered sugar and softened butter.
  3. Mix on low speed until a dough forms.
  4. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press it down towards the edges of the pan until all of the pan has been covered evenly with dough.
  5. Place the base into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
  6. While the base is baking, prepare the filling.
  7. Add the sliced strawberries and rhubarb to a large bowl.
  8. Add the sugar, vanilla and cornstarch and gently mix through the fruit.
  9. When the base is ready take it out of the oven and using a slotted spoon, transfer the fruit to the base.
  10. Spread the fruit out evenly.
  11. In another bowl, combine the ingredients for the topping except the butter and mix well.
  12. Grate the butter into the mixture then rub the butter with your fingertips into evenly sized pebbles of butter.
  13. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit and place back into the oven.
  14. Bake for 45-50 minutes and the crumb topping is golden.
  15. Let the bars cool before slicing into squares.

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