Description
These Strawberry Cobbler Bars feature a buttery, crumbly oat and flour base topped with sweet, macerated fresh strawberries and a golden crumble topping. Perfectly baked to achieve a moist fruity filling with a crisp and tender topping, these bars make a delightful dessert or snack for strawberry lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Topping
- 200 g (7 oz) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 220 g (7¾ oz) plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 100 g (3½ oz) oats
- 150 g (5¼ oz) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (optional)
Filling
- 400 g (14 oz) fresh strawberries, firm, bright red, sliced
- 4 tbsp strawberry jam
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar (for macerating strawberries)
Instructions
- Melt Butter: Gently melt the unsalted butter on low heat and allow it to cool slightly to prevent cooking the flour immediately, which is essential for a crumbly texture in the base.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the plain flour, oats, sugar, salt, and vanilla bean paste (if using). Use a fork to mix until the texture resembles sandy pebbles with small clumps.
- Form Base: Take about two-thirds of the crumble mixture and evenly press it into the bottom of a baking dish. Use the palm of your hand to create a level surface for even baking.
- Bake Base: Bake the pressed base for approximately 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway if edges brown too quickly, to ensure an even bake.
- Prepare Strawberries: While the base bakes, slice strawberries and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes to macerate and release juices. If the mixture is too watery, discard 1-2 tablespoons of juice to keep the filling thick.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the macerated strawberry mixture evenly over the baked base. Spoon and spread 4 tablespoons of strawberry jam evenly as well. Then sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly on top.
- Bake Bars: Bake the assembled bars for a total of 55 minutes. If they appear too dry at 30 minutes, cover with foil and continue baking to retain moisture.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely, then chill for at least 30 minutes to set. For clean slices, use a hot, dry knife warmed gently before cutting.
Notes
- To achieve a crumbly texture, do not overmix the crumble mixture.
- Discard excess strawberry juice if your filling becomes too watery to prevent soggy bars.
- Using a hot, dry knife for slicing helps maintain neat edges.
- You can substitute strawberry jam with raspberry or apricot jam for a different flavor.
- Make sure to cool the melted butter slightly before mixing to avoid cooking the flour.
