Description
Sweet summer memories unfold in these irresistible strawberry rhubarb crumb bars, where tangy rhubarb and juicy strawberries nestle between buttery, crumbly layers. Dessert dreams come alive with each delightful bite that promises pure seasonal bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Fruits:
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
- 1 cup rhubarb, diced
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Create a vibrant fruit mixture by gently combining chopped strawberries and rhubarb with sugar and cornstarch, ensuring even distribution and allowing the ingredients to macerate while preparing the crust.
- Craft the crumb base by blending flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl, then introduce melted butter and vanilla extract to develop a textured, slightly moist dough.
- Firmly press approximately half of the crumbly dough into the prepared pan, creating an even, compact foundation that will support the fruit layer.
- Carefully distribute the macerated fruit filling across the crust, spreading it uniformly to ensure each bite contains a balanced ratio of fruit and pastry.
- Generously scatter the remaining crumb mixture over the fruit layer, creating a rustic, textured topping that will transform into a golden, crisp surface during baking.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, watching for a rich golden-brown color and listening for the gentle bubbling of the fruit filling.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the filling set and makes cutting into neat squares easier.
Notes
- Swap rhubarb with seasonal berries like blackberries or raspberries for a delightful flavor variation.
- Reduce sugar content by using half the recommended amount or substituting with stevia for a lower-calorie option.
- Enhance the crumb texture by adding chopped nuts like almonds or pecans to the topping for extra crunch.
- Make the bars gluten-free by replacing all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg