Description
Strawberry pie bars bring summer’s sweet essence to life with a buttery crust and luscious fruit filling. Creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced, these bars offer a delightful twist on classic pie that you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, cut in half
- 3 cups flour
- 3 eggs, slightly beaten
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
Sweeteners:
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup sugar
Flavor Enhancers and Stabilizers:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and create a parchment paper sling in a 9×13 baking dish, allowing edges to hang over for easy removal.
- Combine flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest in a mixer, blending on low speed. Incorporate cold butter until mixture resembles coarse pea-sized crumbles, then mix in beaten eggs until dough forms a crumbly consistency.
- Press two-thirds of the dough uniformly across the bottom of the prepared pan, ensuring an even layer for consistent baking.
- Toss halved strawberries with lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar in a bowl, mixing until ingredients are thoroughly coated and sugar begins to dissolve.
- Distribute strawberry mixture evenly over the crust, then sprinkle remaining dough on top in a rustic, uneven pattern to allow filling visibility.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the surface turns light golden and strawberry filling bubbles vigorously, releasing an enticing aroma throughout the kitchen.
- Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the filling set and enables clean, precise cutting of the dessert.
Notes
- Use the back of a measuring cup or flat-bottomed glass to press the dough evenly, creating a uniform base that bakes consistently.
- Choose ripe, firm strawberries at peak season for the most vibrant flavor and natural sweetness.
- Toss strawberries in cornstarch just before adding to the crust to absorb excess moisture and maintain a crisp texture.
- These bars can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and develop deeper complexity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg