Strawberry Thyme Bars
Donald Responte won a FoodieKitchen.com recipe contest for his take on the classic oatmeal bars. The strawberry filling infused with the subtle hint of fresh thyme elevates old-fashioned comfort food to a gourmet-worthy treat. Donald says "I have always loved strawberries with thyme, so I wanted to do something with this combination. I based the crust on an apple crisp that my family makes, and it works great for these bars. When fresh strawberries are abundant, it is an excellent dessert that is easy to prepare."
Yield 16 servings
Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup oats, quick-cooking or rolled (not steel-cut)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 pound fresh strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
| 1 | Preheat oven to 350°F |
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| 2 | Generously butter 8x8 inch pan (or spray with cooking spray). |
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| 3 | Mix the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir in the butter and blend well. |
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| 4 | Press 2/3 of the mixture into the prepared pan and set aside. |
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| 5 | Mix together the berries, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and thyme. Spread the berry mixture over the crust in the pan |
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| 6 | Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the berries. |
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| 7 | Bake for 30 minutes. |
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| 8 | Let completely cool, or chill in refrigerator to firm layers. Cut into 2-inch squares. |
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