Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). You want to make sure it’s ready when you finish preparing your batter.

In a medium bowl, combine the chopped strawberries, lemon juice, cornstarch, and sugar. Toss the mixture gently to coat the strawberries evenly. Set it aside. This allows the strawberries to absorb the sugar and lemon juice, enhancing their flavor.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mix them together until well combined. Next, pour in the melted butter and vanilla extract. Stir everything together until the mixture is crumbly and holds together.

Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Press about two-thirds of the oat mixture into the bottom of the pan. Make sure it’s packed evenly. This will form the base of your bars.

Spread the strawberry mixture evenly over the oat base. Use a spatula to ensure an even layer. Don’t worry if some strawberries poke out a bit; it’s all part of the charm.

Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the strawberry layer. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but a decent coverage will create a nice topping.

Place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. The aroma wafting through your kitchen will be heavenly!

Once baked, remove from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes. After that, lift them out using the parchment paper and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cool, cut them into squares.