Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 C rolled oats
  • ¾ C flour
  • ⅓ C light brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 6 Tbs unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 C strawberries, divided
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
  • 1 Tbs sugar, divided

Directions

  1. Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 375° F. Line an 8” x 8” baking pan with parchment paper so that the paper overhangs two sides like handles.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, ginger, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until it forms clumps and the dry ingredients are evenly moistened. Set aside ½ cup of the crumble mixture, then press the rest into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan.
  3. Scatter half of the strawberries over the crust. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the lemon juice and ½ tablespoon of the granulated sugar. Scatter on the remaining berries, then the remaining ½ tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over the top. You will have some fruit showing through.
  4. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly and the crumb topping smells toasty and looks golden. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely (you can speed this process along in the refrigerator).

Notes

  1. If you want to use frozen strawberries, let them thaw completely and pat them dry before making the recipe.
  2. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.