“Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars”

Hey! Don’t let those strawberries or limes you bought go to waste. I’ve got the perfect recipe to use up that extra fruit with my Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars. 🍓

Thick strawberry filling scented with fresh lime juice is baked between layers of rolled oat and pecan crust. Once baked and then cooled these bars are fruity, nutty and make a great end of dinner treat. Heck, why stop there. Bake a batch just to have something to cure a sugar craving.

If you love strawberries and the taste of lime this recipe is right up your alley. What’s not to love? Nothing. 😍 Fresh strawberries were used in this recipe yet frozen strawberries will do just fine. Use fresh squeezed lime juice and not bottled for superior flavor.

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

I love fresh strawberries because I think we all think of the sweetness. Fresh is fresh no matter what. Citrus is divine whether lime, lemon, or orange. Citrus has a way of adding that little something to fruit fillings in particular.

When I created this recipe I was playing around with making fruit fillings for various baking projects. It’s almost like making homemade jam if you will, just no canning involved. The process of making fruit fillings is really simple.

Strawberry and lime was the combination I chose for this recipe on purpose. Noticeably strawberry and lemon seem to be used together but not many strawberry lime.

The filling is citrusy, tangy and sweet and definitely with full-on strawberry flavor. Then this luscious filling is baked in an oatnut crust made of rolled oats and pecans. These strawberry lime bars are addictive and get better with each bite. The blend of flavors is delectable. Let’s talk about what you need to bake these bars.

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

What do I need to make the strawberry lime filling? You’ll need:

• fresh or frozen strawberries
• strawberry preserves
• fresh lime juice
• granulated sugar
• cornstarch
• sea salt

What do I need to make the oatnut crust? You’ll need:

• unsalted butter
• light brown sugar
• all-purpose flour
• sea salt
• baking soda
• rolled oats
• pecans

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, let’s bake! 🧑‍🍳

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

First, grab your ingredients, frozen items thawed, if needed, 2-quart saucepan, 11X7″ or 8X8″ tart or baking pan, a spatula, a large spoon, and a medium mixing bowl. Feel free to grab anything else you think you may need.

Next, start this recipe by making your strawberry-lime filling. In your saucepan, add in strawberries, preserves, lime juice, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir to combine and place saucepan over high heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly until clear and thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool almost completely. Place filling in refrigerator to speed up cooling process.

Second, it’s time to prepare the delicious buttery crust. Start by creaming butter and brown sugar until thoroughly combined. You can use a hand mixer if you prefer instead of by hand.

Stir in remaining crust ingredients and mix until well combined. Reserve 1 1/4 cups of crust and set aside. Press remainder of crust into tart or baking pan and spread strawberry filling over crust evenly. Sprinkle top with remaining crust and press down lightly. Place pan on another baking sheet.

Last, bake strawberry lime oatnut bars at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes and golden brown. Cool pan on wire rack. When ready to serve, cut into bars as desired. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

Just writing about this yummy recipe makes me want to go and bake a batch. This is a recipe you can easily make at the drop of a hat.

From the first bite, it’s heaven in a bar. Just think, sweet strawberry, tangy lime jammy centers nestled between layers of buttery oatnut crust. There’s a bit of goodness all around. Crunchy crust and sweet filling are a match made in heaven.

You say you love these bars, checkout another fruit bar recipe like “Pineapple Apricot Oatmeal Bars”. Fantastic as well. Sounds like a great recipe to bake for yourself or any gathering. Happy Baking!

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

If you make this recipe or a variation, like or leave a comment below, @michelleheyden, @chowdownlowdown, or #chowdownlowdown.

 

Strawberry Lime Oatnut Bars

1 – 10 oz. bag frozen or fresh whole or sliced strawberries, thawed with juice

3/4 cup strawberry preserves

2 T. fresh lime juice, to taste

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 t. sea salt

6 T. unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 t. sea salt

1/4 t. baking soda

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup chopped pecans

 

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine strawberries, strawberry preserves, lime juice, sugar, cornstarch, and salt.

Bring pan to boiling then reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and becomes clear. This will take 3 – 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees and lightly butter the bottom of an 11X7-inch removable bottom tart pan or 8-inch square pan.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until combined.

Stir in remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

Reserve 1 ¼ cups crumb mixture and press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of prepared pan.

Spread strawberry filling evenly over crumb mixture and sprinkle reserved crumbs on top of strawberry filling. You may have extra filling leftover but use on toast like jam or fluffy biscuits.

Press down crumb mixture lightly and place on a baking sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove pan from oven and place on wire rack to cool.

Cut as desired and serve. Store any leftover bars in an airtight container.

 

Makes 24 bars.