Strawberry Rhubarb Bars
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy.
These strawberry rhubarb bars is super easy to throw together! It can all be made in one bowl and you don’t need to use your mixer.
As a child one of the pies I always remember enjoying in the summer was a strawberry rhubarb pie.
There is just something about that flavor combination that screams summer is here. But making a pie isn’t always something I feel like signing up for.
But a strawberry rhubarb bar that is whipped up in under 30 minutes? Now that I can always sign up for.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- One Bowl Dessert – Yup! Just one bowl. I made the crumb mixture and the strawberry mixture all in the same bowl. Just give it a quick wipe before proceeding.
- Quick To Throw Together – This recipe uses the same crumb topping for the bottom and topping so it comes together quickly.
Ingredients Needed
- For the crumb mixture: oats, flour, baking powder, brown sugar, white sugar, and salt.
- For the filling: strawberries, rhubarb, lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar.
How To Make These Bars
I wanted to simplify this bar by making it one bowl. This strawberry rhubarb bar uses the same mixture for the bottom and top of the bar to make these super speedy to come together.
Step 1: Line Your 9×9 Pan With Parchment Paper
Step 2: Make the oatmeal crumb mixture. Whisk together your flour, oats, baking powder, brown sugar, white sugar, and salt.
HEATHER’S BAKING TIP: You want to use old fashioned oats. I tried using quick oats but they kind of disappeared into the mixture. Using old fashioned oats gave the bars better texture.
Step 3: Once everything has been whisked together, then add in your butter. Cut the butter into tablespoons so it’s more easily incorporated.
BAKING 101: You want to be sure to use cold butter for this. Just as if you were making pie dough, you want to use cold butter, because it will create pockets of butter that will then melt and steam in the oven creating a bit of a flaky texture.
Step 4: I used a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. You could even use your hands to rub the butter into the mixture, if you don’t want to dirty another utensil.
Step 5: Reserve a cup of the oatmeal mixture for the topping
Step 6: Press the rest of it into the bottom of a 9×9 pan. I used the bottom of a measuring cup to press the mixture in.
Step 7: Prepare your filling by stirring together sliced strawberries and rhubarb, lemon juice, cornstarch and sugar.
Step 8: Pour the filling over the crumb mixture that is the pan and spread it out.
Step 9: Sprinkle the 1 cup reserved crumble over the top and bake!
Recipe FAQ’s
I know not all of you probably have a 9×9 pan. So you definitely can use your square 8×8 pan. Your bars will be a bit thicker than mine. Nothing wrong with that. I do not recommend your 9×13 pan, because the bars might be a little on the thin side.
If you want to freeze these bars, let them cool and remove them from the pan and then cut into bars. Freeze first on a cookie sheet, then once frozen place inside a zip-loc bag. They will keep for up to 2 months.
These bars are fine to make 1-2 days ahead of time. Of course I think they are best the day of, slightly warm!
More Recipes To Try
Tools Needed
Strawberry Rhubarb Bars
Ingredients
For the crumb mixture
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cups brown sugar
- 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 12 tablespoons butter cold, cut into tablespoons
For the filling
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 cup sliced rhubarb
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, sugars, salt and baking powder. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Reserve 1 cup of the mixture and set aside.
- Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the 9×9 pan. Use the bottom of the measuring cup to easily press down.
- In the same mixing bowl, stir together all the filling ingredients. Pour over the crumb mixture in the pan. Top with the remaining 1 cup crumb mixture, spread evenly around.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling. (for me this took exactly 55 minutes). Allow to cool on a wire cooling rack, then cut into bars and serve. Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Tools: 9×9 pan, Pastry Blender
- I used a 9×9 pan for this recipe, but an 8×8 pan works as well. You will just have thicker bars.
- Line your pan with parchment paper. But if you don’t have that, you can spray your pan but it might not easily remove. You can also use tinfoil and spray the tinfoil with non-stick cooking spray. Just don’t use wax paper!
- If you want to freeze these bars, let them cool and remove them from the pan and then cut into bars. Freeze first on a cookie sheet, then once frozen place inside a zip-loc bag. They will keep for up to 2 months. But these bars are best the day of. My preference? With a dollop of ice-cream!
Want to try these. Can frozen strawberries be used if drained
Thanks for asking, Kathy! Yes, frozen will work, you will just need to thaw drain and slice them.
If I just wanted to use strawberries, do I substitute another cup for the rhubarb?
Hi, I haven’t tried. You might find the extra strawberries may release extra juices compared to the rhubarb. If you find the filling is extra juicy you can try adding a a little extra cornstarch.
Looking forward to making these. Do you think I could use rice flour instead of the AP flour?
Hi Danielle, I haven’t tried with rice flour but since it’s gluten free I don’t see it behaving the same way. If you are using rice flour because it’s GF I would recommend using a gluten free flour that has other ingredients added to it so it can be replaced 1 to 1 with all purpose flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill!
On top of looking super tasty, I love that the ingredients for this recipe can easily be whipped up in one bowl.
Thank you Moop, yes I love one bowl recipes too 🙂
We loved these bars! The filling was so fresh tasting, and the crumb mixture gave these bars such a nice texture — love the flavor the brown sugar added.
Aw I’m so glad you loved them Amanda!! 🙂
Love this idea for rhubarb..these bars look SO good! A perfect summer treat for the fresh produce…cannot wait to give these beauties a try 🙂
aw thank you Tammy 🙂
I love that you can freeze these! I have portion control issues so burying half the pan at the bottom of the freezer is always a good thing to do. 😉 Can’t wait to try these!
Thanks Alex, yes I love freezing extras!
Rhubarb and strawberries are just so good together! I’d love to give this a try. They look so dreamy and perfect for summer!
Thank you Erin, let me know how they turn out!
OMG! I know what I’m going to bake today! This delicious strawberry rhubarb bars! Will let you know how it came out 😉
Thank you Veronika! Have fun baking 🙂
Strawberry and rhubarb is such a great flavor combination! I never thought to use it for bars! What a great idea!
Thank you Leslie!
Tried these for dessert yesterday. They were as delicious as the picture. My family too loved these crumb bars.
Thank you Aditi! I’m so glad you loved it!
Yum! I just LOVE fruit bars and this was the perfect balance of flavors!
Thank you Kim, I’m so glad you loved these 🙂
Love the idea of a quick dessert, plus rhubarb and strawberry are a classic pair. Looking forward to trying them out!
Thanks Marta…enjoy!
These strawberry rhubarb bars look so sweet and delicious! Such a perfect little treat for summer time!
Thank you Lauren! Couldn’t agree more!
One of my favorite flavor combinations. I will be making these bars ASAP!
Me too Michaela! Let me know how you love them 🙂
Strawberry and Rhubarb are a marriage made in heaven. These look so amazing and so much quicker than making a pie!
Thank you Cyndy, and yes I agree – so much easier than pie!!
Wow these look so yummy!! I love anything with rhubarb, I’m going to try these, they’ll make great desserts for lunches!
Ooh yes great idea for lunch snack 🙂
My in-laws just brought us over a batch of rhubarb from the garden, so I had to make a batch, and I’m so glad I did! These bars were so simple, and every bite was full of fresh fruit flavor.
aw thank you Amanda!
They look amazing do you have a carb count?
Hi Barb! Thank you and I just updated the nutrition facts to reflect the number of carbs 🙂
These bars look absolutely delicious! The strawberry and rhubarb filling is such a pretty color. I so want these bars right now!
Thanks Thao! When its rhubarb season I just can’t help but bake something (ok all the things with it!) hope you like them!