These 5-ingredient gluten-free dairy-free nut-free bars take under 10 minutes to put together and hit the delicious “easy” button by using a store bought gluten-free cake mix. They make a large 9×13 family size dessert and are awesome for taking to a party or event (ps – no one will know they are GF/DF!). They are a family favorite in our house, and my kids can make them themselves, woot!
5-ingredient Raspberry Bars
Ingredients
- 1 package gluten-free yellow or vanilla cake mix *see notes below
- 2 cups gluten-free quick cooking oats
- 1 cup melted ghee
- 1 cup raspberry or blackberry all-fruit jam
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment or foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Combine cake mix and oats in a medium mixing bowl.
- Add melted ghee to cake mix/oats mixture and mix till combined (will be crumbly).
- Pat half of the crumbly mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, covering the bottom of the entire pan evenly.
- In a small bowl, combine water with preserves, mixing to thin out the preserves.
- Drop small spoonfuls of the preserves on the prepared crust. Spread out the preserve drops until crust is covered (*spread carefully, as crust will lift a little. Just do your best to spread it around and don't worry about it - it's going to get covered up anyway ; ).
- Sprinkle remaining cake mix/oats mixture on top of the preserves, covering the entire pan. Gently pat down the top, to help set the crumbly mixture into the preserves.
- Bake for 23-25 minutes. Eat cooled. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
*We had the best success with taste/results with the Krusteaz gluten-free yellow cake mix from Walmart for this recipe.
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If you want a cake mix with simpler ingredients or no white sugar, you can also use the Simple Mills vanilla cake mix. However, the Simple Mills cake mix is half the size of a regular cake mix. So, you will either need to buy TWO Simple Mills cake mixes and then follow the recipe above. OR make the following modifications in your recipe:
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Ingredients:
1 Simple Mills Cake Mix
1 1/4 cup gluten free quick cooking oats
6 tablespoons melted ghee
3/4 cup raspberry or blackberry preserves
1 tablespoon water
*Bake in a 8x8 or 9x9 pan
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Oh, and these hold together fine once cut and cooled, but when you cut there will be crumbs from the bars left on your tray. Don't toss them! They make fantastic ice cream toppings : )
.
If you want a cake mix with simpler ingredients or no white sugar, you can also use the Simple Mills vanilla cake mix. However, the Simple Mills cake mix is half the size of a regular cake mix. So, you will either need to buy TWO Simple Mills cake mixes and then follow the recipe above. OR make the following modifications in your recipe:
.
Ingredients:
1 Simple Mills Cake Mix
1 1/4 cup gluten free quick cooking oats
6 tablespoons melted ghee
3/4 cup raspberry or blackberry preserves
1 tablespoon water
*Bake in a 8x8 or 9x9 pan
.
Oh, and these hold together fine once cut and cooled, but when you cut there will be crumbs from the bars left on your tray. Don't toss them! They make fantastic ice cream toppings : )
Is there a substitute for ghee?
Yes, you could use an equal amount of a vegan butter like Miyokos!
Big hit every time I’ve made them! Very easy recipe and tastes great. A friend who is gluten-free for medical reasons said they were delicious – thumbs up from us!
These were not only easy and quick to make, but were so delicious! My whole family has raved about them and requested the recipe be saved! I used Bob’s Red Mill GF vanilla cake mix and homemade jam. Thank you for the recipe, it will be made again and again!
I love that these were an easy win you want to make again! Thank you!
Hi this looks great for summer! Do you have a recipe without the cake mix? Could I just substitute a GF flour?
Hi and thank you, it’s delicious! I don’t have a recipe developed yet without the cake mix, but I recommend checking out the bars Real Food by Jessica shares like this one for a from-scratch version: https://www.realfoodwithjessica.com/2018/08/17/paleo-blueberry-pie-crumb-bars/
O.M.GRAVY!!! These raspberry bars are not only super simple, but they are AMAZING!!! There are only 2 of us at home these days…made them on a Monday and we seriously had to hide them in the fridge so they’d make it to Wednesday night dessert. We could have easily devoured them by Tuesday morning.! Autumn you are a #ROCKSTAR
Aw, what a rave review! I’m thrilled they were an easy hit in your home, thank you!
Finally! A non-chocolate dessert from you! 😃 I made these using the Simple Mills mix & made half with oats (for me) and half without (for the hubs)~ delicious!!
Lol, you know I love my chocolate! Happy this was enjoyed, thank you!