No-Bake Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars (With a Creamy Twist!)

Crumble bars are a treat that feels extra special but are SUPER SIMPLE to make.

In this article, I will disclose my secret recipe to you. They make your crumble bars extra sweet, soft, and packed with a creamy layer that makes every bite a classic delight. 

Therefore, if you want a no-oven, no-stress snack that’s perfect for warm days or anytime you want a cool bite, this is the perfect recipe. 

With only a few simple steps, everything will come together perfectly. 

Let’s dive in!

No-Bake Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars Recipe 

Below are the ingredients you need for these crumble bars:

For the crust & crumble: 

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats 
• ½ cup almond flour (or ground almonds) 
• ¼ cup chopped or sliced almonds 
• ¼ cup honey or maple syrup 
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil or butter 
• ½ tsp cinnamon 
• Pinch of salt 

For the creamy filling: 

• 200g (about 7 oz) cream cheese, softened 
• 2 tbsp Greek yogurt (optional, for creaminess) 
• 1 egg (or 1 tbsp cornstarch for egg-free) 
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

For the fruit layer: 

• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries 
• 1 tsp lemon juice 
• 1 tsp cornstarch 
• 1 tbsp honey (optional, if berries aren’t sweet) 

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions:

Below is a simple breakdown of how I make my strawberry oat crumble bars. Follow the same process and you will not stop getting the best results. 

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
2. Line your square baking pan with parchment paper. 
3. The next step is to make the crust. Simply mix oats, almond flour, cinnamon, salt, honey, almonds, and melted coconut oil. Keep mixing until it is crumbly. 
4. Press ¾ of this mixture into the bottom of the pan. This serves as the base while you reserve the rest for the topping. 
5. In another bowl, whisk together your cream cheese, yogurt, honey, egg(or cornstarch) and vanilla. Mix until it is smooth. Pour over the crust as the filling. 
6. Add strawberries. But before this, toss the strawberries with lemon juice, cornstarch, and a touch of honey. Place this over the cream layer.
7. Sprinkle the rest of your oat mixture over the strawberry layer.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden and the center looks set. 
9. Let your dough cool completely before chilling in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
10. Once it is firm enough, slice into bars. 

Easy Ingredient Swaps and Variations

What if you don’t have certain ingredients? Can you swap them? OBVIOUSLY! You can. Let me share a few hacks with you here. 

If you have no cream cheese, feel free to use Greek yogurt or ricotta. 

No almonds? Then opt for sunflower seeds. Sometimes, I skip it entirely. It doesn’t matter as much. 

You can try other fruits as well:

• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Peaches

These work well and infuse an extra flavor into your crumble bars. 

What if you are a vegan? Well, skip the egg, or swap the cream cheese with a vegan-friendly variation. You can also use maple syrup instead. 

How to Store and Serve Your Bars 

There are 2 ways to store your crumble bars.

1. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Place your bars in an airtight container to prevent excess moisture. 
2. If you want to store for up to 2 months, wrap the bars INDIVIDUALLY and place them in the freezer. When it is time to serve, thaw the frozen bars properly in the fridge overnight.

This simple recipe is proof that delicious treats don’t have to be hard to make.

Trust me, THIS is the best way to make strawberry oat crumble bars. Once you try them, you will want to make them over and over. 

Have fun cooking!