Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars combine tart rhubarb and fresh strawberries for the perfect pairing of springtime flavors!! These rich oatmeal bars are perfect for a filling breakfast or an after-dinner treat!

Warm weather means rhubarb season, and that means time to make some Strawberry Rhubarb Oat Bars. If you grow your own plants, then this easy recipe is the perfect way to use them up! Otherwise, you can buy fresh rhubarb and sweet strawberries from your local grocery stores.

The texture of these Oatmeal Bars is similar to my Dessert Crisp. The main difference is that when making these bars you have a strawberry and rhubarb filling packed together between two layers of the oatmeal crumble mixture and baked.  For crisps, I like to put the fruit in a pan with the buttery oatmeal crumble on top.

But feel free to serve like a strawberry rhubarb crisp with some whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I know we like to.

What does Rhubarb Taste like?

You’re probably pretty familiar with strawberries, but rhubarb may be new to you! Raw rhubarb is generally a quite tart and sour vegetable, which is why it’s often paired with something sweet.

When raw, rhubarb is crunchy like celery, but it softens as it cooks. 

The leaves of the rhubarb plant are toxic, but the stalks are perfectly safe to eat raw or cooked. The best time to find fresh rhubarb is in the spring, as it doesn’t do well in the heat. Most rhubarb is harvested in late winter/early spring.

Ingredients for Strawberry Rhubarb Bars

Here’s what you need to make these tasty bars:

• Diced strawberries
• Diced rhubarb
• Granulated white sugar
• Cornstarch
• Cinnamon
• Kosher Salt
• Fresh lemon juice
• All-Purpose flour
• Rolled or old-fashioned oats
• All-purpose flour
• Light brown sugar
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Chopped walnuts or pecan pieces (optional)

Make sure to review the recipe card below for specific amounts and detailed directions.

How to make Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

These oatmeal bars come together quickly and easily. To save time, wash and dice your strawberries and rhubarb ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake!

1. First, preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray an 8×8-inch square baking pan with cooking oil.
2. Next, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, white sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Toss and set aside.
3. Now combine the rest of the ingredients (except for walnuts) in another large bowl with a rubber spatula. Press half of the oat mixture into the bottom of the pan for your bottom crust.
4. Spread the fruit mixture on top of the oatmeal crust. If there is too much liquid in the bottom of the bowl, use a slotted spoon to spread the fruit.
5. If desired, add walnuts to the remaining crumb mixture, then scatter the crumb topping on top of the fruit mixture evenly.
6. Finally, bake for 20-25 minutes until the fruit filling is bubbly and the crumble topping is just a golden brown. Serve warm alone or with a scoop of ice cream!

Recipe Substitutions

• Substitute maple syrup or agave syrup for the sugar.
• Use almond flour or oat flour instead of all-purpose flour for a gluten-free treat.
• Fresh lemon juice is best, but you can use the bottled kind.
• Add a splash of vanilla extract for added flavor
• You can use salted butter for the crust, but then I would omit the salt from the recipe.

Can I use frozen strawberries and frozen rhubarb?

Yes. You can frozen fruit to make this recipe. Just be sure to thaw them completely. I put them in the refrigerator the night before and then drain to remove any excess liquid.

Storing Leftover Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars

These bars are fine stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want to store them longer, place them in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars?

Yes, these bars freeze well! Slice and wrap individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature for a few hours or overnight.

Can I make a larger batch of these?

Yes, you can double the recipe and make it in a 9×13-inch baking dish. 

Berry Recipes To Try

Spring and summer make me think of all things “berry”! Here are some recipes where berries are the star ingredient:

Breads

• Fluffy, homemade Blueberry Muffins are easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients. Imagine golden-brown tops and a tender inside, where the sweet blueberries and a hint of vanilla come together.
• This Triple Berry Bread is bursting with flavor from fresh summer berries like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. If you make it today, snap your fingers tomorrow morning, and you will have a nice little breakfast waiting for you.
• Start off your morning with these tasty Orange Cranberry Muffins. These are perfect for breakfast or brunch any time of year, and especially when the holidays roll around.

Smoothies

• This Mixed Berry Smoothie combines frozen berries, bananas, vanilla Greek yogurt, and more for a healthy, refreshing breakfast! You won’t even taste the hidden greens!
• This sweet Blueberry Smoothie is perfect for breakfast or even as a great afternoon pick-me-up!
• I think my all-time favorite combination is this Cranberry Orange Smoothie. I started with some orange juice, then added some good ol’ Greek yogurt and flax seed, some frozen cranberries and bananas to balance the acidity, and voila– another yummy and healthy treat!

This post was originally published June 11, 2018. It has been updated in format and with pictures on May 9, 2024.