These Strawberry Bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with a sweet strawberry filling. Made with a simple dough that doubles as both the base and topping, they come together easily for a dessert that’s perfect for strawberry season.
Strawberry Bars Recipe Summary
- Flavor & Texture: Sweet, jammy strawberry filling layered between a buttery, crumbly crust and topping
- Main Ingredients: Fresh strawberries, flour, sugar, butter, egg, cornstarch
- Perfect For: Spring and summer desserts, potlucks, brunch, or using up fresh strawberries
- Why You’ll Love It: One simple dough doubles as both the crust and topping, making it easy and low-effort
- Quick Tip: Keep the butter cold for the best texture and let the bars cool completely before slicing
If you’ve got fresh strawberries to use up, this recipe is a great way to turn them into something the whole family will love without a lot of extra work.
The combination of the strawberry filling, buttery shortbread crust, and crumb topping makes these bars hard to resist. Slice them up and serve as-is, or add a scoop of ice cream for a little extra indulgence.
For more delicious ways to use fresh strawberries, try these white chocolate covered strawberries and air-fried strawberry hand pies next.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with pantry staples and fresh strawberries, this tasty treat comes together with easy-to-find ingredients.
- Amazing Flavor Combination: The buttery crust and crumb topping pair perfectly with the sweet strawberry filling.
- Great for Any Occasion: These easy strawberry bars are perfect for family desserts, spring and summer gatherings, potlucks, and more. If you need another warm-weather party favorite, check out this strawberry banana cheesecake salad!
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: Creates structure and forms the base of both the crust and the crumb topping.
- Granulated Sugar: You’ll need it for adding sweetness to both the dough and the filling.
- Baking Powder: This leavening agent lightens the texture of the dough so the crust and crumb topping do not become too dense.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps create the dough’s crumbly texture.
- Egg: Helps bind the dough together so it keeps its shape.
- Cinnamon: Adds flavor and a subtle warmth to complement the strawberry filling.
- Strawberries: The star of these bars, fresh strawberries break down during baking to create a delicious, jammy filling.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the filling and helps it set properly.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Dairy-Free: Use plant-based butter in place of dairy butter. Be sure to choose stick-style butter, as the spread type can make the crust too soft.
- Mixed Berry: Replace some or all of the strawberries with a mix of berries like blueberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries to change up the flavor.
- Strawberry-Lemon: Add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon zest and a squirt of lemon juice to the filling to brighten the flavor and enhance the natural sweetness of the strawberries.
How to Make Strawberry Bars
To get started making this strawberry bars recipe, preheat your oven to 375°F and grease or line a 9x13” baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients. Add the flour, sugar, and baking powder to a bowl and whisk together.
Step 2: Add butter and egg. Cut in the cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then add the egg and mix until the dough comes together.
Step 3: Make the base layer. Press a portion of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 4: Make the strawberry filling. Add the strawberries, sugar, and cornstarch to a bowl and stir until the strawberries are well coated.
Step 5: Add the strawberry layer. Arrange the strawberry mixture on top of the crust layer.
Step 6: Sprinkle on the topping. Crumble the rest of the dough on top of the strawberry layer.
Step 7: Bake. Place in the oven and bake until the top is lightly golden, about 50 minutes.
Step 8: Cool and slice. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, then slice into 16 bars.
Expert Tips
- Keep the butter cold for the best texture: Cold butter helps create a crumbly dough that bakes into a tender, shortbread-like crust and topping.
- Press the crust evenly into the baking dish: Press the base layer of dough down firmly and evenly to help hold it together and prevent the filling from seeping through.
- Store in the refrigerator: Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy them chilled or let them come to room temperature before serving. You can also warm individual bars in the microwave for a few seconds if you’d like.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy the bars after a delicious dinner like this slow-cooked Greek chicken or this Hawaiian-style beef stew.
- Make them for your next brunch along with some guava mimosas or blueberry mimosas.
- Serve them as part of a spring or summer dessert spread with other fruity, sweet treats like this blueberry cobbler.
Strawberry Bars Recipe FAQs
If the topping starts to brown too quickly, loosely tent the baking dish with foil to protect the top layer while allowing the bars to finish cooking through.
Yes, frozen strawberries work well in this recipe. Be sure to thaw and drain them first to remove excess moisture, then proceed as directed in the recipe to prevent the filling from becoming too watery.
More Delicious Strawberry Baked Goods
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card right below! You can also write a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. And don’t forget to tag me @freshcoasteats in your photos on social media, I'd love to see your results!
Strawberry Bars
Ingredients
Crust and Topping
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter cubed
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Strawberry Filling
- 16 oz 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
- Keep the butter cold to ensure the crust and topping have the perfect texture.
- Be sure to press the dough base firmly into the baking pan in an even layer.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Enjoy chilled, at room temperature, or warmed up.