Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

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Made with a simple oat crust and a fresh strawberry filling, Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are a delicious way to welcome berry season.

Close-up view of sliced strawberry oatmeal bars on a piece of parchment paper.

As you can probably imagine, my team and I spend a lot of time at the supermarket. And we’ve all noticed that fresh berries are starting to become available again.

In my mind, fresh berries are a sure sign that the seasons are changing, even if the weather is still sweaty here in Ohio. And even though peak strawberry season won’t arrive in my region for a while yet, I love making recipes that also allow the pre-season berries to sing.

From Strawberry Banana Muffins to Strawberry Popsicles to these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars, these recipes keep me going even when the weather isn’t great.

Strawberry oatmeal bars arranged next to fresh strawberries on a white plate.

Simple strawberry oatmeal bars

These strawberry oatmeal bars are a cinch to make. You’ll put together a simple mixture filled with oats for both the tender base crust and the crumbled topping.

The fresh strawberry filling adds just the right amount of sweetness and lets all the flavors of the fresh strawberries shine through.

They are perfect for a spring or summer dessert. But with the combination of oats and strawberries, every now and then I allow myself to enjoy one of these bars even for breakfast.

Plus, just like my Homemade Apple Pie Bars and Lemon Bars, they’re perfect for feeding a crowd! Bring them to any cookout and I can bet you’ll take home an empty container.

Three strawberry oatmeal bars stacked on a white plate with a glass of milk in the background.

How to make strawberry oatmeal bars

These Strawberry Oatmeal Bars are pretty easy to make, so I can bet you’ll find yourself looking for reasons to make them regularly!

Ingredients you will need

For the fresh strawberry filling you will need:

4 cups fresh strawberries
⅔ cup granulated sugar
Juice of half a lemon
1/3 cup cornstarch

You will need 4 cups of whole strawberries of which you will need the shell and dice. I don’t recommend using frozen strawberries for this recipe unless you have already diced frozen strawberries.

Don’t worry too much about the exact measurement of lemon juice. If you don’t have fresh lemon juice, use about 1 1/2 tablespoons of bottled juice (although I always recommend using fresh lemons!).

Ingredients for strawberry oatmeal bars laid out on a light colored work surface.

For the oat crust and topping you will need:

2 cups of oatmeal
2 cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon
14 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

I prefer to use rolled oats (aka old fashioned oats) in this recipe. I love the chewy texture they add to recipes like these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

If you only have quick cooking oats, this will work perfectly. Just make sure you DO NOT use instant oatmeal.

Make sure you know how to measure flour correctly so your oatmeal bars turn out perfect every time!

You will need to use softened butter for this crust mixture. If you forget to make the butter ahead of time, I have a few tips for softening it quickly.

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Preparing this recipe

When making these strawberry oatmeal bars, start by preparing the filling. Mix the diced strawberries and sugar and let the mixture rest for 10 minutes, then add the lemon juice and cornstarch.

Strawberry filling for oat bars in a metal bowl.

Set the filling aside while you prepare the crust mixture.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, softened butter, salt and vanilla on low speed. Mix until the mixture resembles coarse flour.

Firmly press about ⅔ of the crust mixture into the bottom of a greased 13×9-inch pan. I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to tamp the mixture down, just like I do when I make pecan bars.

Spread the strawberry filling over the crust, making sure not to leave any of those delicious juices in the bowl!

Use your hands to squeeze the remaining crust mixture into clumps and sprinkle it over the strawberry filling. Cook the bars for about 35-40 minutes; they will be ready when the crust is golden and the edges are puffy.

Strawberry oat bars assembled ready to bake.

Recipe tip

Be sure to let these bars cool completely before cutting, otherwise they will fall apart!

Oatmeal bar variations

I love making these bars with the first fresh strawberries of the season, but you could try any of your favorite berries in this recipe!

If you use blueberries you can leave them whole. If you use raspberries, blackberries or cherries, I recommend halving them or cutting them into quarters, depending on their size.

A berry blend would also be delicious and a sort of portable version of my berry brittle.

I originally made these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars years ago using Truvia baking mix, but I wanted to update the recipe to use granulated sugar instead. If you still want to use Truvia baking mix instead of sugar, simply halve the amount of sugar to use ⅓ cup of the mix in the filling and crust.

Top view of sliced strawberry oatmeal bars on a wire rack.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh in these oatmeal bars?

I don’t recommend using frozen strawberries in this recipe because they need to be diced. Frozen strawberries are usually sold whole or sliced and turn into a mushy mess if you try to dice them.

If you don’t have fresh berries and still want to make oatmeal bars, try using your favorite berry preserves in my raspberry bars instead.

I don’t have oatmeal. Can I use quick cooking oats?

Yes, quick oats will work perfectly in these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars. The texture is slightly different, so the bars may not have the same chewiness, but they will still be delicious.

But make sure you DO NOT use instant oat flour in this recipe.

Three strawberry oatmeal bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken from one corner of the top bar.

Prepare the filling:

In a large bowl, mix together the diced strawberries and sugar. Let it rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, add the lemon juice and cornstarch and stir to combine.

Prepare the crust/topping:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, butter, salt, and vanilla on low speed until the butter is evenly distributed and the mixture resembles coarse flour.
Using your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup or glass, firmly press 2/3 of the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the strawberry filling evenly over the top of the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the strawberry filling, tamping some of the mixture together into clumps to create a crumb-like topping.
Bake the bars for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely before cutting.

Try substituting other berries in place of the strawberries for a different twist.
If you want to use Truvia Baking Blend instead of granulated sugar, simply halve the amount.
Adapted from Truvia

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 216kcal, Carbohydrates: 33G, Protein: 3G, Fat: 9G, Saturated fats: 5G, Polyunsaturated fats: 1G, Monounsaturated fat: 2G, Trans fats: 0.3G, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 61mg, Potassium: ninety twomg, Fiber: 2G, Sugar: 15G, Vitamin A: 249UI, C vitamin: 17mg, Soccer: 15mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is calculated automatically, so should only be used as an approximation.