Strawberry Crumble Cake Bars

1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Tin

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Line your 22×22 cm (9“×9”) baking tin with baking parchment, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.

2. Make the Cake Base

In a mixing bowl, mix together 180 grams of plain flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Set it aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together 120 grams of soft unsalted butter and 100 grams of caster sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. If the dough is too stiff, add a tablespoon or two of milk.

Pat the cake batter evenly in the prepared baking tin.

3. Prepare the Strawberry Layer

Mix the chopped strawberries with 2–3 tablespoons of caster sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Distribute the mixture evenly over the cake batter.

4. Make the Crumble Topping

In a bowl, mix together 70 grams of plain flour, 30 grams of rolled oats, 50 grams of brown sugar, and the zest of ½ lemon.

Add 60 grams of cold butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Distribute the crumble topping evenly over the strawberry layer.

5. Bake

Bake for about 40–45 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown and the strawberry layer is bubbling.

6. Cool and Slice

Allow the cake to cool completely in the baking tin before lifting it out and slicing into squares.

Tips for the Perfect Strawberry Crumble Cake Bars

To ensure that your bars turn out really well, here are a few additional tips:

Chop the Strawberries Small: Smaller pieces (about 1cm) are easier to spread and bake quicker, creating a nice, jam-like layer without too much liquid pooling.

Don’t Skip the Cornstarch: The cornstarch binds the berry juice during baking and prevents the bars from getting soggy.

Allow the Bars to Cool Completely: Once the bars have cooled and the strawberry filling has really set, they’ll be much easier to slice.

Variations to Try

Here are some delicious variations you can try to put your own spin on the bars:

Nutty Crumble: Add a handful of chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans to give the oat crumble a crunchy and nutty flavour.

Mixed Berries: Replace half of the strawberries with blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a “summer berry” twist.

Cream Cheese Layer: Spread a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese (like plain cheesecake mix) over the cake base before topping with strawberries for a richer version.

For more sweet indulgence, check out these simple yet delicious recipes:

Classic Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Spinach Cake

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Conclusion

Whether you serve them at a picnic, pack them as a snack, or enjoy them with afternoon tea, these Strawberry Crumble Cake Bars are a sweet, easy treat you’ll want to make all season long.