Strawberry Crumble Buttery Bars – Sweet, Buttery, and Bursting with Fresh Strawberry Flavor

If you love buttery shortbread, juicy strawberries, and crumbly streusel toppings, get ready — these Strawberry Crumble Buttery Bars are about to become your new favorite dessert.

They’re soft, golden, and layered with the perfect mix of sweet fruit and buttery crumble. Think of them as part pie, part cookie, and completely irresistible.

These bars taste like summer but are easy enough to make any time of year. Whether you’re baking for a picnic, a brunch spread, or a simple weeknight treat, these strawberry crumble bars never disappoint.

🍓 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Buttery shortbread crust: Crisp on the edges, soft in the middle, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
• Juicy strawberry filling: Fresh or frozen strawberries make a bright, sweet, slightly tangy layer.
• Crumble topping: Golden and buttery with hints of vanilla and brown sugar.
• Simple to make: One dough doubles as both crust and crumble — no fuss, no mixer required.
• Perfect for any occasion: Great for potlucks, picnics, or tea-time indulgence.

🧈 Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Shortbread Base & Crumble:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar – packed
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter – cubed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Strawberry Filling:

• 2 cups chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen, thawed)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest (optional but brightens flavor)
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch (for thickening)

🍓 How to Make Strawberry Crumble Buttery Bars

Step 1: Preheat the oven.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.

Step 2: Make the crust and crumble.
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and vanilla extract. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 3: Form the base.
Press about ⅔ of the mixture firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan to form the crust. Save the remaining ⅓ for the crumble topping.

Step 4: Prepare the strawberry filling.
In a medium bowl, combine chopped strawberries, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir gently until the strawberries are well coated.

Step 5: Assemble the layers.
Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly on top.

Step 6: Bake.
Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the strawberry filling is bubbly.

Step 7: Cool & slice.
Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper. Slice into squares once fully cooled.

Strawberry Crumble Buttery Bars

Golden buttery shortbread bars layered with juicy strawberries and topped with a crisp crumble. Easy, elegant, and irresistibly delicious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 16 bars

Course: Dessert, Snack, Tea Time

Cuisine: American, Home Baking

Calories: 240

Ingredients

  

Shortbread Base & Crumble

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 0.25 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.5 tsp baking powder
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberry Filling

• 2 cups strawberries chopped, fresh or frozen
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest optional
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch for thickening

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Pastry cutter or fork
• 8×8 baking pan
• Parchment paper

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in cold butter and vanilla until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Press ⅔ of mixture into pan for the crust and reserve the rest for topping.
5. In another bowl, mix strawberries, lemon juice, zest, sugar, and cornstarch.
6. Spread strawberry mixture over crust and sprinkle remaining crumble on top.
7. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and bubbly.
8. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

For a glaze, mix ½ cup powdered sugar with 1 tbsp milk and drizzle over cooled bars.

💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Bars

1. Use cold butter: It’s key to achieving that crumbly, shortbread texture.
2. Don’t overmix the dough: Stop when you see pea-sized crumbs — that’s perfect.
3. Let them cool: The bars firm up as they cool, so resist the urge to cut them early.
4. Want extra sweetness? Drizzle with a vanilla glaze after cooling.
5. Try other fruits: Blueberries, raspberries, or peaches work beautifully too!

🍓 Serving Suggestions

• Dessert: Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
• Breakfast treat: Enjoy a bar with your morning coffee or tea.
• Picnic favorite: Easy to pack and share — they hold up well at room temperature.
• Gift idea: Wrap bars individually in parchment and tie with ribbon for a sweet homemade gift.

🧺 Storage & Freezing

• Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Refrigerator: Lasts up to 5 days — the flavor deepens!
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature before serving.

🍋 Variations

• Strawberry Lemon Bars: Add an extra tablespoon of lemon juice to the filling for a tangy twist.
• Strawberry Almond Bars: Mix ¼ cup sliced almonds into the crumble for crunch.
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars: Spread a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese between the crust and fruit.
• Mixed Berry Bars: Use a blend of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for color and variety.

🌟 Why These Bars Are a Must-Bake

These Strawberry Crumble Buttery Bars hit all the right notes — buttery, fruity, crumbly, and just the right amount of sweet. The base melts in your mouth, the strawberries add a burst of freshness, and the topping gives a golden crunch that makes each bite perfection.

They’re the kind of homemade dessert that feels nostalgic and cozy, like something you’d find cooling on grandma’s kitchen counter — but elevated with a bakery-worthy finish.

Whether you serve them warm with ice cream or chilled straight from the fridge, they’re guaranteed to impress.