Strawberry oatmeal bars are a delicious combination of chewy oatmeal cookies and strawberry crumble. And the best thing is, like most dessert bars, they are super simple to make. This easy one-bowl recipe combines an oatmeal-studded crumb crust with a layer of bright, sweet strawberry preserves and a coconut-strewn crumb topping.
Ingredients for Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
- Oatmeal: This recipe calls for quick-cooking (or instant) oats. Although, if all you have on hand are old-fashioned oats, you can mimic quick-cooking oats by pulsing them in a blender or food processor a few times. Here’s more on instant oats vs. old-fashioned oats, and how to use them interchangeably in your baking recipes.
- Butter: When choosing between salted vs. unsalted butter, we recommend using a lightly salted butter for this recipe.
- Strawberry preserves: Using a prepared fruit spread makes these strawberry oatmeal bars easy to prepare, although there is sometimes a notable difference between jam and jelly and other preserves. The thick consistency and larger chunks of fruit in strawberry preserves is ideal for this recipe, but you can use strawberry jam in a pinch. Avoid using a jelly, which has the wrong consistency. If you don’t have a go-to brand, try one of our Test Kitchen’s picks for the best strawberry jam.
- Shredded coconut: The secret ingredient in this oat bar recipe is sweetened shredded coconut, making this recipe both a strawberry dessert recipe as well as a coconut dessert. It adds an unexpected flavor and crunch to the crumb topping.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the crumb mixture
In a bowl, combine the flour, quick-cooking oats, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the melted butter and vanilla and stir until crumbly. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture.
Editor’s Tip: Place the reserved crumb topping in the fridge while prepping the rest of the ingredients. This will prevent the butter from softening too much and helps make big crumbs for the topping.
Step 2: Make the layers
Press the remaining crumb mixture evenly into an ungreased 13×9-inch baking dish. Spread the preserves over the crumb crust. Stir the shredded coconut into the reserved crumb mixture and sprinkle over the preserves.
Editor’s Tip: Lightly press the chilled crumb topping in your hand to form large clumps before sprinkling over top the bars.
Step 3: Bake the bars
Bake at 350°F until the coconut is lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the bars cool.
Editor’s Tip: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares. To hasten cooling, place the baking dish in the refrigerator for 20 to 25 minutes.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bar Variations
- Make your own preserves: Take these bars to the next level by making your own strawberry preserves from scratch. This quick and easy strawberry jam recipe is a great place to start. After you pick up the strawberries and before you prepare the jam recipe, make sure you know how to store strawberries and how to clean strawberries properly so that they’ll be in the best condition possible when it’s time to cook.
- Try a different fruit preserve: This recipe is incredibly versatile. Raspberry, blueberry and blackberry preserves would all be yummy substitutes for strawberry.
- Give the bars a glaze: After the bars have cooled, drizzle them with a vanilla glaze.
- Top them off with something sweet: You can’t go wrong with a generous dollop of something sweet on top. Greek yogurt, vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream are all delicious options.
How to Store Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Leftover strawberry oat bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Can you freeze strawberry oatmeal bars?
Strawberry oat bars are freezer-friendly. To freeze, first let the bars cool completely. Then, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container. Strawberry oatmeal bars can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bar Tips
How can you make gluten-free strawberry oatmeal bars?
To make these oat bars gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour mix and gluten-free oats. Try one of our favorite store-bought gluten-free flour mixes, or make your own gluten-free flour blend at home.
How can you make sure the strawberry oat bars won’t stick to the baking dish?
To easily remove the strawberry oatmeal bars from the baking pan, line it with parchment paper. Leave an overhang of about 2 inches on opposite ends of the pan so you can easily lift the bars out.
Can you use a smaller pan to bake strawberry oatmeal bars?
To make thicker bars, you can bake them in an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan.
