Description
Delight in these Strawberry Crunch Bars featuring a moist strawberry cake base topped with a creamy strawberry-flavored cream cheese frosting and a crunchy golden Oreo and strawberry gelatin crumble. Perfectly balanced for a sweet treat that’s easy to make and sure to impress.
Ingredients
Cake Base
- 1 box strawberry cake mix
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons strawberry gelatin powder
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream
Crunchy Topping
- 20 Golden Oreo cookies
- 4 tablespoons strawberry gelatin powder
- ¼ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking; set aside.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, ½ cup melted butter, eggs, and 2 tablespoons of strawberry gelatin powder. The batter will be thick. Spread this evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake Cake Layer: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Once done, remove the pan from the oven and allow the cake base to cool completely to room temperature.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat together the softened cream cheese, ¼ cup softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of heavy cream, continuing to beat until smooth. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of heavy cream to reach desired spreadable consistency.
- Frost the Cake: Evenly spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled strawberry cake base.
- Make the Crunchy Topping: Place the Golden Oreo cookies into a food processor and pulse until they break down into rough crumbs, leaving some larger pieces for texture. Add 4 tablespoons of strawberry gelatin powder and pulse to combine. Pour in the ¼ cup melted butter and pulse just until everything is moistened and combined.
- Add Topping and Chill: Sprinkle and spread the cookie and gelatin crumble evenly over the cream cheese frosting layer.
- Refrigerate Before Serving: Refrigerate the assembled bars for at least 30 minutes to allow the topping to set. Slice into 9 bars and serve chilled.
Notes
- Make sure the cake base is completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- The heavy cream in the frosting helps achieve a smooth, spreadable texture—adjust quantity based on your preferred thickness.
- The crunchy topping can be customized with different flavored cookies if desired.
- Store leftover bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- For easier slicing, use a sharp knife and clean between cuts to keep bars neat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
