Print

Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars Recipe with Perfect Buttery Topping

easy strawberry rhubarb crumble bars - featured image
Print Recipe

These easy strawberry rhubarb crumble bars feature a buttery crisp topping paired with a sweet-tart filling, perfect for a quick and delicious spring dessert or casual gathering treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, unbleached
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 cups (450 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
  • 2 cups (240 g) fresh rhubarb, chopped into ½-inch pieces
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Finishing sugar sprinkle (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan lightly or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter.
  3. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fork until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining, about 3-5 minutes.
  4. Reserve about 1 ½ cups (190 g) of this crumb mixture for the topping, and press the rest firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to form the crust.
  5. Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden around the edges.
  6. While the crust bakes, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Stir in vanilla extract if using.
  7. Once the crust is out of the oven, spread the fruit filling evenly over it.
  8. Sprinkle the reserved crumble topping evenly over the fruit layer. Press lightly if needed, but do not compact it too much.
  9. Bake for another 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
  10. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars for clean slices.

Notes

Keep butter cold to create a flaky, crumbly texture. Do not overmix the crumble topping to avoid a dense crust. Taste the filling before baking and adjust sugar if needed. Use cornstarch to thicken the filling and prevent sogginess. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly. Cool bars completely before slicing for best results.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry rhubarb bars, crumble bars, easy dessert, spring dessert, buttery topping, quick dessert, fruit bars

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/easy-strawberry-rhubarb-crumble-bars-recipe-with-perfect-buttery-topping/