Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to whip up something sweet for your loved ones, and what could be better than a batch of Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal Bars? These bars combine the tartness of raspberries with the richness of dark chocolate, all nestled within a chewy oatmeal cookie base. Not only are they a joy to eat, but they’re also gluten-free, plant-based, and refined sugar-free, making them a totally guilt-free indulgence. What I love about them is their versatility, with many substitution options like making them nut free, swapping raspberry for strawberry or any other option you desire; the variations are endless and each one makes the perfect amount of chewy and crunchy.

Ingredients for Gluten Free Raspberry Bars

• Vegan Butter or Coconut Butter: Both butters can be used depending on what you have on hand. This Vegan butter provides moisture and helps bind the ingredients for the crust. Coconut butter offers a slightly healthier, plant-based fat option.
• Coconut Sugar: A great option if you do not want to add refined sugar into your recipe. What I love about coconut sugar is that it offers a caramel-like sweetness without spiking blood sugar levels. A natural sweetener with a lower glycemic index than regular sugar. You could also opt for maple syrup or agave nectar each offering a slightly different flavor to the recipe.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances the overall flavor of the bars. Not much is used so if you don’t have any on hand don’t worry!
• Gluten Free 1:1 Flour or Oat Flour: Keeps the recipe gluten-free while providing a perfect texture. Oat flour offers a whole-grain, nutrient-dense option. You could also use almond flour for a grain-free version, though this may change the texture
• Gluten Free Rolled Oats: Adds the much desired chewy texture to these gluten free raspberry bars. Rolled oats are also a great source of fiber. Regular rolled oats are fine as well if gluten isn’t a concern; avoid quick oats as they can make the texture too soft.
• St Dalfour 100% Fruit Raspberry Jam: I LOVE this jam, it does all the right things that jam should do without being too sweet! This raspberry jam, in particular, adds a bit of sweetness and that tangy raspberry flavor we all love. If you can’t get your hands on this raspberry jam, any that you have will do but try to avoid no-sugars.
• Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Chips: Introduces a rich chocolatey taste while keeping the recipe refined sugar-free. Did you know that dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and can be good for heart health? Just in case you needed another reason to love dark chocolate!
• Sliced Almonds: These add a crunchy texture and are a good source of healthy fats. I love sliced almonds in this recipe, however, you could also use chopped walnuts or pecans; in my opinion, the softer nuts work nicely with this recipe.