Description
Delight in these delicious Strawberry Crumb Bars featuring a buttery crumbly crust, a sweet and tangy fresh strawberry filling, and a golden crumb topping. Perfectly baked for a balanced texture and fruity flavor, these bars are a great treat to serve chilled or at room temperature.
Ingredients
Crust and Crumb Topping
- 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
Strawberry Filling
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F to prepare for baking the bars.
- Prepare Pan: Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper so it hangs over the sides, which helps in removing the bars easily after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients for Crust: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup white sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring to mix evenly.
- Cut in Butter: Using a fork or pastry cutter, cut the very cold butter into the flour mixture until the pieces are very small, resembling pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, pulse in a food processor to achieve this texture. The dough should be crumbly.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat the egg in a small bowl, then add it along with vanilla extract to the flour-butter mixture. Stir until combined into a crumbly dough.
- Form Bottom Crust: Take half of the crumbly dough and firmly pat it evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create the base layer.
- Prepare Strawberry Filling: In another bowl, mix together 1/3 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the chopped strawberries until evenly coated.
- Assemble Bars: Evenly spoon the strawberry mixture over the bottom crust layer in the pan.
- Add Remaining Crumb Topping: Sprinkle the remaining crumb dough evenly over the strawberry filling to cover it partially or fully.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the top is slightly golden brown. Note that ovens vary; in a hotter oven, baking time might be closer to 38 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares. For best results, refrigerate until ready to serve to help them set well.
Notes
- Ensure butter is very cold to achieve the perfect crumbly texture; warm butter will produce soggy crust.
- Using parchment paper with overhanging edges aids in easy removal of bars without breaking.
- Chilling bars before serving enhances flavor and firmness.
- You can substitute fresh strawberries with frozen ones; just thaw and drain excess liquid to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
