Gluten-Free Blackberry Crumb Bars (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

These super easy Gluten-Free Blackberry Crumb Bars are vegan, allergy-free, and loaded with sweet juicy blackberries! Made with a sweet dairy-free buttery crust and crumb topping, these blackberry bars are a healthy dessert recipe served warm like a slice of pie with melty ice cream and a fork or eaten cold with your hands!

Bar-style desserts are the best, aren't they? I mean, that's why we all love brownies so much, right? Being a little obsessed with blackberries this year, using some of those delicious, sweet, juicy berries for some crumb bars sounded like a good idea! With a super simple gluten-free crumbly crust, a layer of fresh blackberries, and a crumble topping, they're a perfect summer treat!

How to make the Sweet Shortbread Crust

The bottom crust and top crumb are the same. You'll use about ⅔ of the dough for the bottom, leaving just enough for a light crumble topping!

What you need:

• Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour
• Brown Rice Flour (you can swap this for more all-purpose)
• Flax Egg
• Granulated Sweetener
• Light Brown Sugar Sweetener
• Baking Powder
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla
• Vegan/Soy-Free Butter

To make the crust:

1. In a bowl, combine the flours, prepared flax egg, sweeteners, baking powder, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix them together completely.
2. Add the cold cubed butter and crumble it into the flour mixture with your fingers until the butter is distributed throughout. The dough should be sandy.
3. Press about ⅔ of the dough into a lined 8x8 inch baking pan (about ¼ inch thickness).
4. Place the rest of the dough and the baking pan in the fridge while you make the berry layer.

Using Fresh or Frozen Blackberries

You can use either or BUT, please use fresh blackberries if you can. You need about 12 ounces, 2 ¼ cup of berries. If you are using frozen, you'll want to have them defrosted and any excess juice drained off. Otherwise, your bars will be super soggy. The bottom crust is not thick, so too much berry juice and water from any ice is a no-no.

Making the Blackberry Layer

All you have to do if toss the blackberries together with some corn starch (or arrowroot starch) and granulated sweetener. Just so they are lightly dusted before you add them to the cold crust that you pressed into your baking pan. Then cover the top of the berries with the rest of the dough you saved; crumble it over the top evenly.

Additional Baking Tips and Storage

• If you have any super big blackberries, gently cut them in half.
• Make sure the dough is cold before you bake it in the oven (placing it in the fridge while you prep the berries is enough time to chill!)
• You can use a smaller baking pan than an 8x8 inch if you want a thicker crust and more crumb topping. Do not use anything bigger though. You won't have enough dough or berries.
• Make sure to line your baking pan with cut parchment paper for the easiest, cleanest, removal.
• The bars need to cool COMPLETELY before cutting them. I didn't cut my bars until the next day. I let them cool completely in the fridge and got the best result.
• Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze the bars wrapped individually in foil or wax paper for up to 6 months, thawing them out in the fridge.

Perfect for Any Diet

These bars are super kid-friendly and adult-loved so everyone in the family with LOVE a square of the goodness! They're:

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
• Has No-Added Sugars

How to Serve Crumb Bars

Are they a dessert bar or a breakfast bar? You tell me! Either way works since they are healthy and really depends on what you serve them with! You can enjoy the bars warm like a slice of pie (blackberry pie bars, anyone?) with a scoop of melty dairy-free vanilla ice cream! Eat them with a fork and enjoy it as a dessert. Eat them warm or cool for breakfast or brunch as is or you can also serve them straight from the fridge for a quick mid-morning snack, eaten with your hands!

Gluten-Free Blackberry Crumb Bar Recipe

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A slightly sweet and buttery crust with a simple crumb topping, sandwiching a bursting-with-blackberries fruity layer! These bars are so good and will get gobbled up in no time!

Try these other fruity treats:

• Gluten-Free Peach Cobbler
• Skillet Blueberry Crisp For Two
• Raspberry Mug Cake
• Blackberry Muffins
• Bakery-Style Blueberry Muffins
• Strawberry Quick Bread

 

So tell me:

+ What's your favorite way to use summer berries?

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