These strawberry rhubarb bars are sweet and gooey and everything you’re looking for in a summer dessert. Topped with an oat crust and packed with lots of fresh fruit, these bars are perfect for your 4th of July BBQ.
Growing up, I wasn’t big on fresh fruits or veggies. I lived on carbs, counted potatoes as my daily veggies, and rarely strayed from the standard American diet. (Also known as: SAD) I’ll never forget the first summer I spent in Hawaii when I was 17. We visited the Dole plantation and at the end of the tour they hand you a piece of pineapple as you step off the ride. I remember hesitating before deciding to try it and then thinking, “Wow, that’s really not bad!”
Thankfully I have come a long, long way since 17 year old Erin. I now love fruits and veggies and try to make sure I not only eat a lot of them, but eat seasonally, locally, and organically whenever possible.
The old Erin used to hate when fruits were incorporated into desserts. I remember walking through the school cafeteria and wondering why someone would ruin cheesecake by putting strawberry pieces on top of it. (Thinking back on these memories I cringe. I’m really hoping I don’t have a little me one day!)
Now some of my favorite desserts incorporate fresh fruits. They add so much natural sweetness! We are in prime strawberry and rhubarb season so I am living for strawberry rhubarb combinations.
Fresh Thyme is my one of the best places to get affordable, high-quality food. They have a great selection of organic produce and try to focus on supporting local whenever possible. I recently stopped by and stocked up on all the ingredients needed to make strawberry rhubarb bars. These bad boys are delicious, relatively easy to make, and made with high quality, organic ingredients from Fresh Thyme.
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Strawberry Rhubarb Bars Recipe
Makes 9-12 bars
Crust Ingredients
- ¾ Cup old fashioned oats
- ¾ Cup all purpose flower
- ¼ Cup white sugar
- ½ Tsp salt
- 1 stick cold unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp cold water
Filling Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups sliced strawberries
- 2 C diced rhubarb
- 1 C white sugar
- ¾ C dark brown sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 Tsp salt
- ½ Tsp cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp corn starch
Topping Ingredients
- 1/4 C flour
- 1/4 C old fashioned oats
- 1/4 C dark brown sugar
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add the oats to a food processor and pulse until they have a flour-like consistency.
- Add the salt and flour and pulse briefly to combine everything.
- Cut the butter into 1-inch cubes and add to the food processor.
- Pulse until a rough, sandy dough forms.
- Add the water and pulse again until the dough thickens and appears relatively smooth.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper (You could also use a 9×13 pan if you want a thinner, crispier crust).
- Evenly press the dough into the dish, making sure to get it about halfway up the side of the dish.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and set aside while you prepare the filling.
- In a large pot, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, cinnamon, salt, and white sugar.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit begins to break down (about 5-10 minutes)
- Bring to a simmer, then add the brown sugar and continue cooking until the mixture is relatively smooth (another 10-15 minutes).
- Whisk in the corn starch and continue cooking, whisking frequently, until the mixture is slightly thickened (about 10 minutes more).
- While the filling cooks, prepare the topping: In a medium bowl, add all of the topping ingredients.
- Massage together with your hands until everything is evenly combined and small lumps form.
- Set aside until the fruit is fully cooked.
- Once the strawberries and rhubarb are finished cooking, pour evenly over the baked crust and sprinkle with a generous layer of the crumb topping.
- Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.
- Allow to cool, then cut into squares and enjoy!
Questions of the Day: Are you a fan of fruits in your dessert? Have you cooked with rhubarb? Did you enjoy fruits and veggies as a kid?
Thanks to Fresh Thyme for sponsoring this post!
Strawberry Rhubarb Bars sounds like a great dessert for the weekend. I’ll buy the ingredients and make them! I’m so excited for this. Thanks for your recipe.
Oh My Gosh!!! This Strawberry Rhubarb Bars look so yummy. I’m not a big dessert eater but I’m sure it would be a hit with my peeps on our potluck dinner this weekend. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m not a big fan of rhubarb but I know a number of people that love it. You can beat serving dessert bars for a group of people, it;’s the simplest way to make it.
As a foodie, I am going to save this recipe and try it sometime. As kid, I wasn’t really into fruits but I terribly hated vegetables. I love them and grow them now. Lol.
My wife is a huge fan of strawberry/rhubarb. These bars are right up her alley, and I wouldn’t mind giving them a try 🙂
I used to love rhubarb pie growing up! I think this recipe would be great for when I have guests over for dinner. Thanks for sharing!
That looks so delicious! I love anything Rhubarb, I will have to try. Thanks so much!
Oh goodness gravy that looks so yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
That looked really mouthwatering. I want some of those please!
This looks so delicious! I love strawberry and rhubarb so this recipe is right up my alley!
I am a sucker for new recipes and this is one I will enjoy making. My family would live for this. Thanks for sharing
I love anything rhubarb. These look so yum!
The Strawberry Rhubarb Bars look delicious especially because they have natural strawberries. When I first saw it I thought they had Strawberry jam but after reading the recipe I see it has real strawberries. Definitely worth trying.
This looks delicious and so super easy to make! I think a lot of our food habits are formed at an early age. My kids love fruit and veggies and we always have them available as a snack. We try not to buy “the not so good” food very often, although on occasion this is ok too.
YES!! I just got a ton of rhubarb in my CSA share and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it! These bars look way easier than a pie-plus my kids will totally love them! Great recipe girl!
Ok this looks so darn delicious! I need to try this recipe!
I dont eat strawberries that much but I think you have done a great job here that can be an exemption on me at least giving it a try. (y)
These strawberry rhubarb bars look so yummy! Definitely need to make this, my kids would love it!
l love strawberries! Thank you for sharing this recipe
This looks so delicious! I love strawberries, they are my favorites
The strawberry rhubarb bars looks so delicious and yummy. I’m craving something sweet now 🙂
Great attention to detail in the steps and photos of the recipe! That’s super important. Thank you.
No, Erin. I am just like the 17-year-old you….I don’t like fruits in my dessert! ?
YUM! And all I’d have to substitute is the butter to make this vegan. Easy Peasy!
Love the detailed recipe! Rhubarb is one of those veggies you don’t often think about. I’ll have to try this recipe for sure.
Looks amazing! Gonna have to try this one.
My mouth is actually watering while reading through this! I’m allergic to oats, so I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it for myself, but I bet my husband would love it too. I’ve never had rhubarb!
A woman after my own heart! This recipe looks awesome has all my favorite ingredients.
Ok…YUM. These look amazing.
I love strawberries so I would definitely try this recipe. It seems easy to make.
This recipe is just lovely. It is easy to make too. Perfect to share with family and friends.
Oddly enough, I’ve never tried rhubarb (at least, not that I knew…). I love strawberries though! Rhubarb is toxic to cats so I doubt I’ll be making this at my own home with my beloved kitties, but I’ll be passing this along to my desert-making friend.
Mmm… strawberries and cinnamon, it must taste delicious! Would love to try this recipe, saved to Mix and Flipboard for the future!
This looks amazing! I am totally making a version of this with vegan butter! Yum!!!
I’m going to try these for me son. He’s like mini you as he doesn’t like vegetables or fruit 😉 he’s starting to accept fruit more easily now (finally!)
I never had rhubarb pie before but i’ve been hearing about it for a while and they sell Rhubarb in our local market, i will check it out.
Strawberry rhubarb is one of my fave summer combos! And that crumble looks delicious!
You really can’t go wrong with strawberry and rhubarb! They were made for each other. And I bet they make these bars extra amazing! Thank you for sharing the recipe ♡
This recipe sounds amazing. Thank you so much for sharing.
We tend to eat fresh fruits veggies and meats and keep our fridge stocked and pantry bare. So glad you broke away from SAD food! The pictures look amazing of your dessert.
Your post is dreamy like my childhood times. It gives me a nostalgic feeling and I love it.
Desserts are always irresistible for me. Going to try it soon. This looks so delicious. I am in awe of your cooking. Love strawberries a lot. Thank you so much.
I have loved rhubarb for a long time. But I was always scared of making it myself for fear of poisoning people or something. I will have to try this out though. The recipe looks pretty simple and it looks delicious.
Wow that looks so delicious! I could eat the whole thing by myself lol will make this during the weekend and see how the kids enjoy it
Not much into rhubarb. But this looks amazing and so simple too.
This sounds delicious and I love that the recipe is so easy to follow!
This looks so good. I’ve never worked with rhubarb, but I’d love to give this a try.
Whoa this rhubarb looks so delicious. I wish i could grab them from the screen. I would love to try to make this soon.
Strawberry and rhubarb were made to go together! One of my all time favorite desserts is strawberry rhubarb pie. This is now on my must make list of foods!!
Fresh Thyme must be your go-to shop thanks to its affordable, healthy, organic foods. Anyway, those rhubarb bars look so crunchy and with some strawberries? I love it!
Yummy!!! I cant wait to try this–but I cant fathom not liking fresh fruit and veggies