Strawberry Streusel Bars (dairy-free)

For the FULL recipe with step-by-step photo instructions and printable recipe card, visit:    www.inspirationapron.com

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (divided)
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed (divided)
• 1 1/4 tsp salt, (divided)
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamon, (divided)
• 3/4 cup cold plant butter, cubed
• 3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon zest (or zest from 1 large lemon)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Note: Read recipe thoroughly before starting, because you will be reserving part of the crust mixture to use for crumble topping. Do not miss this important step!

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 ℉ / 176℃ and grease a 9x9 or 12x7 pan and also line with parchment paper, letting overhang to allow for easy lift-out.

Add 1 1/2 cups flour, oats, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp cardamon to a food processor or blender. Pulse about 5-6 times to mix dry ingredients together.

Next, add the cold cubed butter to food processor and pulse on and off until mixture is combined, and a crumbly consistency is reached.

IMPORTANT: Scoop out 1 cup crumb mixture and reserve in fridge for later use.

Press the remaining crust mixture evenly into bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until set and then let cool on rack while starting the filling.

In a medium bowl, combine strawberries, remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cardamon, 1/4 tsp salt and lemon zest.

Spread strawberry filling mixture evenly over cooled crust and remove reserved crust mixture from refrigerator and sprinkle in small clumps all over top of filling. (It will not be completely covering filling.) Next, evenly sprinkle almond slices over top.

Bake in center of oven, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until mixture is bubbly around the edges and crumble is golden brown. Let cool completely in pan on a rack, then lift out by parchment paper and cut into squares of desired size. Tip: For even easier slicing, chill in fridge before cutting into squares.

NOTE: If you do not have parchment paper, grease and flour pan to prep and cut into bars after they have cooled completely, but while warm run a butter knife around edges to loosen before it completely cools for easier release, (usually after 10 minutes of cooling.)

What do strawberry streusel bars taste like?

Delicious! They have a salty/sweet crust bottom reminiscent of a chewy cookie with a juicy jam-like filling that is sweet and slightly tart for balance and the crumble topping is slightly crunchy with cozy flavors.

These strawberry streusel bars are truly a flavor and texture party in your mouth that come together in a simple recipe using fresh strawberries and common pantry items.

Enjoy!