These Strawberry Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a creamy strawberry filling, and a crunchy crumble topping, and are the ultimate strawberry dessert.
If you are looking for an easy spring dessert recipe, these Strawberry Bars are the perfect option. Inspired by my recipe for Blueberry Pie Bars, this recipe replaces blueberries, with juicy, ripe strawberries to create an irresistible spring dessert.
Just like seasonal strawberries shine in recipes like Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes, Strawberry Spinach Salad, and Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal, juicy strawberries are the star in these Strawberry Pie Bars.
Reasons to Love Strawberry Bars
- Perfect Flavor. From the creamy filling filled with sweet strawberries to the flaky shortbread crust to the buttery streusel topping, these Strawberry Bars are sweet, bright, and irresistible.
- Easy Dessert Recipe. A three-layer dessert may sound complicated, but this dessert comes together easily with 10 minutes of prep time.
- Party-Perfect. Not only does everyone love these strawberry bars, but just like Homemade Fudgy Brownies, Lemon Cheesecake Bars, and Mini Cheesecakes, they transport well and can be eaten without silverware.
Notes on Ingredients
- Strawberries: This recipe must be made with fresh, ripe strawberries. When defrosted, frozen strawberries will be too soft and give off too much liquid, which will prevent the bars from setting up correctly.
- Sour Cream: You can opt to use full-fat or reduced-fat sour cream. I do not recommend using fat-free sour cream, as there are added ingredients that change the consistency and taste of the sour cream. If desired, you can also swap out the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt.
- Egg: The egg will help the filling to set up, but can be omitted if needed. Just keep in mind that the bars will not set up as well and may need to be enjoyed with a fork.
- Lemon: Adding the zest and juice of fresh lemon to the filling helps to brighten up flavors and make everything pop.
- Butter: This recipe is best to use cold, cubed, unsalted butter.
How to Make Strawberry Bars
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One: Prepare Shortbread. The shortbread forms the base and the crumble topping of the strawberry bars and comes together easily using a food processor or with two forks.
Step Two: Bake the Shortbread Crust. Partially baking the crust for 15 minutes helps to keep the crust keeps it flaky and tender. If you skip the prebaking, the strawberry filling can soak into the crust, making it soggy and dense.
Step Three: Prepare the Strawberry Filling. While the strawberry bar base is baking, prepare the filling by mixing the sour cream, remaining sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Gently fold in the strawberries.
Step Four: Layer the Strawberry Bars. When the crust comes out of the oven, pour the strawberry batter over the crust and then sprinkle the reserved ½ cup crust batter over the berry mixture evenly.
Step Five: Bake. Return bars to the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until pie bars are set and crumble over top is slightly browned.
Step Six: Cool. Allow to cool for at least an hour before slicing. I find the bars tasted even better the next day if you can wait that long!
Storage Instructions
Strawberry Pie Bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. I don't recommend freezing because strawberries can release a lot of liquid as they defrost.
More Fruit Dessert Recipes
- Sour Cream Banana Cake
- Homemade Banana Pudding
- Peach Cobbler
- Baked Lemon Pudding
- Cherry Crumb Pie
- Blackberry Crisp
If you enjoyed these Strawberry Bars, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. I love hearing from you!
Strawberry Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar divided
- dash of salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter cubed and cold
- ½ cup full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 4 cups fresh strawberries hulled and diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease an 8x8 baking dish or line it with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a food processor, combine flour, ¼ cup sugar, and a dash of salt. Pulse together until pastry dough is crumbly and butter is evenly distributed. Remove ½ cup mixture for later.
- With the remaining batter, press the mixture evenly into the glass baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- While crust is baking, mix together yogurt, remaining ¼ cup sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest together. Gently fold in the strawberries.
- When the crust comes out of the oven, pour the strawberry batter over the crust and sprinkle the reserved ½ cup crust batter over the berry mixture evenly.
- Return to the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until pie bars are set and crumble over top is slightly browned.
- Allow the bars to cool for at least an hour before slicing or refrigerate overnight before enjoying.
megha
wow very nice recipe its looking so good thank you for shearing keep it up.
Carrie
Now I have something to do with all the fresh strawberries I bought today. Looks delicious.
Jillian
These bars were just the Spring treat I was looking for to use up some strawberries before they went bad. SO delicious an I can't wait to make them again!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed! Perfect way to use up those strawberries.
Kelly
Kristen, these strawberry pie bars look fabulous! Love the creamy strawberry filling. Strawberry desserts are the best!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Kelly!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
What a fabulous combination of flavors. I'd love them!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Allison!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
These look amazing! I can't wait to make these!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Lauren.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I absolutely need these in my life!
Kristen Chidsey
Yes, you do Rachel!
Megan Keno
Wow, these look incredible! I love that these yogurt instead sour cream!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Megan. I love the yogurt myself.
Elizabeth @ Guilty Chocoholic Mama
Yum. These look delicious even though I am normally opposed to any dessert that doesn't involve chocolate. 😉 Printed! Visiting from Foodie FriDIY!
Kristen Chidsey
Ha! Ususally I am too Elizabeth, but these are worth it!
Marye
These look so good, sounds like I would need to ration them out so they don't disappear too fast!
Kristen Chidsey
yes, you would!
Denise Wright
Simple huh....perhaps even I can make them if you daughter can...haha ! I am a terrible baker and that's a good thing because I would be in a sugar coma if I were good. These look delicious and so wholesome. Maybe I can get my son to make them for me?? 😉
Kristen Chidsey
Ha. Ha. Your son can totally handle making these and he should for his mom 🙂
Jade @ Jonesin' For Taste
These pie bars sound divine! How about for breakfast? I'm sure I could justify it right?
Kristen Chidsey
Greek yogurt in here...so yes, I'd say these are acceptable for breakfast
Eli@CoachDaddy
It's strawberry and lemon, so that's practically a salad. My challenge will be to keep them away from three wily kids. They know my stash spots.
Kristen Chidsey
Eat them quick and they will never know 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Strawberry lemon is such a great combination! These would disappear in no time at our house!
Kristen Chidsey
The lemon brightens up the strawberry flavor perfectly
Caroline | carolinescooking
I'd be annoyed if these all disappeared that quickly as well! I've had it in mind to make something along these lines for a while but haven't quite managed. These are going to give me the prompt though they look so good!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you do give them a try Caroline--they are worth eating the whole tray!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Oh Kristen, please forgive me - but I think I'd do what your husband did and have these for dinner too! I mean - how could I not? They sound absolutely divine - and seeing they have lemon and strawberries and yogurt in them - they cover 2 of the food groups eh? 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Ha Ha! Shashi, I think my husband said something of that nature too--they had fruit, they were healthy!