These slightly sweetened strawberry apple oatmeal bars are bursting with fresh strawberries and tender apples, while the oatmeal crust and topping are the same, making this a super easy healthyish summer dessert. This wonderful fruity dessert is perfect as a morning tea snack or a summer picnic treat.

These oatmeal bars are quite versatile, you can adjust the sweetness level to your liking, and you can use other fruit that you have on hand. Replace the strawberries with fresh blueberries, raspberries, peaches, or whatever fruit is in season. The best thing about these strawberry bars is that the crust is the same as the crumble topping, making it an easy-to-whip-up dessert.

Ingredients

Notes on Ingredients and Substitutions

CRUST INGREDIENTS:

Flour: All-purpose flour is all you need.

Butter: For a tender dough and a buttery flavour. Substitute with vegan butter or coconut oil for a dairy-free dessert.

Oats: Old Fashioned (Rolled Oats) adds a great chewy texture and a nutty flavour.

Baking powder: Lightens the texture.

Sugar: I used dark brown sugar, but you can use white sugar if you like, or a combination of both.

Cinnamon(optional): Just a hint, to spice it up. You can replace it with vanilla extract.

Coconut -desiccated or shredded (optional): The addition of coconut is optional, but you should give it a try. The flavour is subtle, I promise. If you don’t have it on hand, just add an extra tablespoon of flour.

Salt: Always add a pinch of salt to your desserts. It enhances the flavours, making your dessert stand out.

FILLING INGREDIENTS:

Sugar: White granulated sugar, or you can use honey, agave syrup, or any other sweetener. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.

Cornstarch: To thicken the juices and create a jammy strawberry consistency. Mix it with your sugar or dissolve it in 1 tablespoon water to prevent lump formations.

Lemon zest: adds a tangy complimentary flavour.

Apples: Use any apples you have on hand.

Strawberries: I used fresh strawberries for this recipe. If frozen strawberries are what you have on hand, they will release more juices when cooked, so you might need to add an extra teaspoon of cornstarch. (note that the filling will thicken as it cools).

How to make Strawberry Apple Oatmeal Bars

1. MAKE THE CRUST AND TOPPING (SAME MIXTURE)

• Combine dry ingredients and melted butter in a bowl, until sandy. Set aside 2/3 of the mixture for the crumble topping. (pic.1)

• Press the remaining mixture into an 8×8 inch greased baking dish lined with parchment paper and bake for about 13-15 minutes. (pic.2)

2. MAKE THE STRAWBERRY-APPLE FILLING

• Peel and dice apples; dice strawberries. Add diced fruit, lemon zest, and sugar/cornstarch mixture to a saucepan. (pic.3) Cook filling on high heat, until bubbly and shiny. (pic. 4) Cool filling slightly.

3. ASSEMBLE AND BAKE

• Spread slightly cooled filling over the baked crust, top with the remaining crumble mixture, and bake until bubbly. (pic.5 & 6)

How to serve and store

Allow these strawberry apple bars to cool completely before cutting them into 6-9 squares and grab them on the go for a quick treat. Or serve them warm, with vanilla ice cream on top. Store bars covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate in an airtight container for 4 days.

Frequently Asked Questions and Tips

Could I double the recipe? Yes! Use a 9×13 inch baking dish. The baking time should be the same.

Can I use other fruit? I have made this recipe with peaches and raspberries but you can make it with any of your favorite stone fruit and berries. As a guideline, I used about 3 cups of chopped peaches (from about 1,5 pounds peaches) and 1 cup of raspberries.

Can I use frozen fruit? Yes, you can. Keep in mind that frozen fruit release more juices, therefore you will need to adjust the quantity of cornstarch to thicken the filling. You will probably need one more teaspoon, but keep in mind that the filling thickens a little as it cools.