Gluten-Free Strawberry Crumble Bars Recipe

Strawberries are at their best right now, so if you love them, you should try these gluten free strawberry crumble bars.

Picture a rich, buttery shortbread-style base spread with fresh strawberry jam, finished with a crunchy crumble topping and baked until golden.

I adore gluten free crumbles, and turning this classic into portable bars—perfect for picnics or lunchboxes—felt like a little dream come true.

What is a strawberry crumble bar?

A strawberry crumble bar is a handheld version of the familiar fruit crumble: a buttery base, a layer of jammy fruit, and a crumbly topping. These gluten free bars are easy to pack, travel well and can even be enjoyed cold.

Inspired by a crumble-style bar once sold in coffee shops, I wanted something fruity and sweet that wasn’t a cake or flapjack. The result is a bright, fruity tray bake that’s easy to make and impossible to resist.

An easy and fruity summer bake

These strawberry crumble bars require very few ingredients and are straightforward to prepare. The base and the topping use the same mixture: half pressed down to form the shortbread base, and the rest crumbled on top.

The jam is made from fresh strawberries, caster sugar and a splash of lemon juice. It only takes about 20 minutes to cook and then cool before assembling the bars, so you can have these ready quickly.

How do I make these bars?

The recipe below makes a 20cm square tray and yields 16 squares. For the jam you need:

• 350 g strawberries, hulled and halved
• 200 g caster sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon

For the crumble:

• 115 g unsalted butter, melted
• 115 g caster sugar
• 230 g plain gluten free flour (I use FREEE by Doves Farm)

If fresh strawberries aren’t available, frozen will work—just allow extra time when cooking the jam to reduce excess moisture. To make the bars dairy free (and vegan), swap the butter for a baking block such as Stork.

I usually use FREEE by Doves Farm flour because it’s widely available, but any plain gluten free flour blend that behaves like plain flour should work.

Tips for making these gluten free strawberry crumble bars

While strawberries are perfect in summer, this bar works with many fruits. Try blackberries or raspberries for a tangy twist, or stone fruits like peaches and nectarines for a juicy alternative.

When making the crumble mix, aim for a range of textures: some fine, breadcrumb-like pieces and some larger chunks for extra crunch on top. I like the contrast of textures—it gives a nice bite to each square.

Press one half of the mixture firmly into the tin for a solid base, spread the cooled jam evenly, then scatter the remaining crumble over the top before baking.

My gluten free strawberry crumble bars (recipe)

This recipe bakes in a 20cm square tin and makes 16 small squares. Prep time is about 30 minutes, cook time 35–40 minutes, total roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.

Instructions

First, make the jam:

1. Put the strawberries, lemon juice and caster sugar into a saucepan over a low heat. Bring to the boil and let it simmer for 10–15 minutes until the mixture has thickened into jam. Test by spooning a little onto a cold plate; if it firms up and doesn’t run back when pushed, it’s ready.
2. Remove from heat and leave to cool for around 30 minutes before assembling the bars.

To make the bars:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / Gas Mark 4. Line a 20cm square tin with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, caster sugar and gluten free flour. Stir until the mix starts to come together. Use your hands to create a crumble texture—fine crumbs plus some larger lumps are ideal.
3. Press half of the crumble mixture firmly into the lined tin to form an even base.
4. Spoon the cooled strawberry jam evenly over the base.
5. Scatter the remaining crumble over the jam and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the fruit is bubbling at the edges.
6. Remove from the oven and cool completely before slicing into 16 squares.

Need more gluten free baking inspiration?

Here are a few other recipes you might like to try from the same collection (titles shown as examples to try at home):

• Gluten free banana, date and walnut loaf cake recipe
• Chocolate orange marble cake
• Gluten free apple and blackberry crumble
• Nutella cake recipe – gluten free
• Gluten free Mini Cheddars recipe

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see your photos—share them with the hashtag #theglutenfreeblogger or tag me on social platforms. Your feedback and reviews help others discover the recipe too.

Happy baking—and enjoy your strawberry crumble bars!