We kicked off strawberry season here on our farm this week. To say I am excited is an understatement. There is nothing like a Jersey strawberry! They are sweet, juicy and so beautifully red. If you live in the area or have had a Jersey strawberry before, you know what I am talking about. If you have not had a Jersey strawberry before, I’m sorry but you are missing out!
It also happens to be rhubarb season too here on our farm. Strawberries and rhubarb are the perfect pair. They go together like eggs and bacon or pancakes and syrup. Rhubarb is the leafy plant pictured below. It’s a very tart perennial vegetable. You only eat the red stalks because the leaves will make you sick. It is often used in desserts, jams or chutney.
So, what can you make with the pair, you ask? I whipped up a batch of these Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars yesterday and just had to share their deliciousness with you! It’s the perfect recipe to enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee. Beware though, they won’t last long.
I begin by finely dicing the rhubarb. I cut it just like I would a stalk of celery. I also clean the strawberries and slice them.
Add both to a medium saucepan along with the sugar and cornstarch. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat.
While the strawberries and rhubarb are cooking, I make the oatmeal dough and press into a 13 x 9 baking dish. Be sure to reserve 1 1/2 cups of the oatmeal crumbs for the topping.
When the strawberries and rhubarb are finished cooking, pour over the oatmeal. Top with the reserved crumbs and pop in the oven.
The end result is a delicious dessert that your family will love. These Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bars did not last long in the Russo house! I added a glaze to these but you can skip that step if you choose. If you really don’t care for rhubarb, you can leave it out. The recipe will be just as good with only strawberries.
- 1 cup fresh rhubarb, cut into ¼ inch pieces (about 3 stalks)
- 2 cups Jersey Fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups quick oats, uncooked
- 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 - 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine strawberries, rhubarb and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat stirring often until tender.
- Combine sugar and cornstarch in a bowl and then add to strawberry rhubarb mixture.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, baking soda and butter in a mixing bowl.
- Beat on low until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
- Reserve 1½ cups of crumb mixture for topping.
- Press remaining crumbs on the bottom of a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.
- Spread strawberry rhubarb mixture over top and sprinkle with reserved crumbs.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Drizzle over cooled bars.
- Cut into 24 bars.
Have you ever cooked with rhubarb? What are some of your favorite rhubarb recipes? Please share. I would love to try something new!
Need some more great dessert inspiration? Be sure to follow my Dessert Pinterest Board. There are lots of great recipes.
Follow Melissa Russo | How Does Your Garden Grow?’s board Dessert Please! on Pinterest.
These look so great!! Can’t wait to try them!
Gorgeous bars, I love these Melissa! I have rhubarb in my fridge. I tried making a rhubarb soda recipe this past week. It was a disaster. My family hated it. 🙁 Hope I have not turned them off to rhubarb completely. I will have to try these bars, they look fool proof and yummy!
I absolutely love strawberry an rhubarb together – and these bars look amazing
Nevr in my life have I had rhubarb! I must try it!
I love this recipe! I made it in the summer with fresh rhubarb and strawberry. Since it’s the middle of winter, I used some strawberry raspberry jam I made. my family absolutely loves them! Thanks for sharing!
Delicious!!! Made for a friend and new kids and they were devoured! Thank you!!!!!!! I am totally keeping this one!! Look forward to more of your recipes!!!
Thank you! I am glad you liked them.
Just made these for work. They were wonderful! Love the oatmeal with the sweet filling. Delicious!
So glad you liked them!!
Ohhh drooling – I love love rhubab – getting some in my CSA share tomorrow and this looks like the perfect way to enjoy it!
Ive got another go to recipe for these, but stumbled upon this recipe and decided to whip up a batch. Added a touch of cinnamon to the crust 🙂 we will see how they come out!
My husband has been asking me for years to bake something with Rhubarb, until I found this recipe nothing ever appealed to me. Hands down these are th most delicious bars I’ve ever had. Thank you for sharing this!!
I am so glad that you liked it!