Strawberry Cashew Cream Crumble Bars (Printable Version)
Buttery oat layers with creamy cashew filling and fresh strawberry topping
# What You'll Need:
→ Crust & Crumble
01 - 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
02 - 1 cup almond flour
03 - 1/3 cup coconut sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
06 - 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
07 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Cashew Cream
09 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours and drained
10 - 1/4 cup coconut cream (thick part from a can)
11 - 3 tablespoons maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
→ Strawberry Filling
15 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
16 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
17 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
18 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, combine oats, almond flour, coconut sugar, salt, and baking powder. Stir in melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla until a crumbly dough forms.
03 - Reserve 1 cup of the mixture for the topping. Press the remaining dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
04 - While the crust bakes, blend soaked cashews, coconut cream, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt in a high-speed blender until completely smooth. Set aside.
05 - In a small saucepan, combine strawberries, maple syrup, cornstarch, and lemon zest. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens and becomes jammy, about 5–7 minutes. Let cool slightly.
06 - Once the crust is done, spread the cashew cream evenly over the crust. Top with strawberry filling.
07 - Sprinkle the reserved crumble mixture over the top.
08 - Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
09 - Cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing into bars.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cashew cream layer is essentially a velvety, plant-based cheesecake filling that nobody will believe is dairy-free
- These bars manage to feel fancy enough for a dinner party but casual enough to grab for breakfast
02 -
- Do not skip chilling the bars before slicing or you will end up with a delicious but unfortunate mess
- These actually taste better the next day once the flavors have had time to become friends
03 -
- If your cashew cream looks slightly grainy, keep blending until you cannot feel any grit at all
- Line your pan carefully because those parchment handles are your best friend when removing these layered beauties