I think one of the biggest wah-wah moments since going gluten-free was realizing that my family’s trashy-yet-awesome tradition of serving frozen-then-thawed Pepperidge Farms cake for everyone’s birthday is now off limits. Noooo. Seriously. NOOOOOO!
This long standing tradition started when my Dad forgot my Mom’s birthday way back in the 80s (way to go, Pops!) Having nothing special prepared and in a panic, he raced to the grocery store after work and picked up the first cake he laid eyes on – a Pepperidge Farms vanilla birthday cake from the freezer aisle. He was saved! Or so he thought.
Little did he know that the cake takes 4-6 hours to thaw in the refrigerator, as he unfortunately found out while attempting to cut into the still-frozen confection after the candles were blown out. Totally. Busted. Luckily, after a quick zap in the microwave we all enjoyed half frozen, half thawed cake but guess what? It was da bomb and delicious enough for us to serve at every family member’s birthday ever since.
Well, since I can’t have yummy yet glutenous cake for my birthday next week, I’m requesting these bad boys. Strawberry-Blueberry Vanilla Chex Bars taste like vanilla birthday cake studded with the sweet taste of strawberries, blueberries, and white chocolate, but are, you guessed it, totally gluten-free.
I think I’m coming out on top here!
These no-bake, 10 minutes treats are a riff on the Strawberry Shortcake No Bake Treat Bars I made earlier this spring, which were a HIT at my house. Vanilla Chex cereal is mixed with freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries for a firecracker-like nod to the 4th of July then mixed, Rice Krispie Treat-style, with gooey melted marshmallows. Press into a dish then slice and devour!
Ben is not a dessert person unless cupcakes are being offered, in which case he’ll eat them in one bite NO MATTER WHAT. Anyway, he proclaimed these bars “The best thing ever. Ever. Ever. Ever.” I agree.
Seriously, the bright taste of the freeze-dried fruit mixed with creamy white chocolate chips, and crunchy vanilla chex is out of this world good. You can’t get more festive for the 4th of July, either. I promise these will be the first thing gone from next week’s spread!
Did I mention they take just 10 minutes to make? Quick enough to mix, press, and slice with this little ankle biter climbing around! ;) (OMG is it time for a first haircut??)
Start with 1 box Vanilla Chex, which both Ben and I agree are what make these bars so phenomenal. They’re just sweet enough, and taste just like birthday cake!
Pour the entire box into a HUGE bowl then add 1/2oz each freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries. Very patriotic, don’t you think? I found these at Trader Joe’s but have seen several other brands at the grocery store in the “health food” section.
Note: freeze-dried fruit is NOT the same as dried fruit. Dried strawberries and blueberries could work in here, but I haven’t tried them and tend to think they might come out a little chewy.
Next add 3/4 cup white chocolate chips and mix everything up. I am borderline obsessed with white chocolate so I took the red, white, and blue theme as a good excuse to add some in.
Time to get gooey. Add a 10oz bag mini marshmallows to a large microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup melted butter then mix to coat the mallows. Microwave for 1 minute then stir until smooth.
Immediately pour the marshmallows over the chex mixture then mix to coat as evenly as you can. Scoop the mixture into a nonstick-sprayed 9×13″ baking dish then press into an even layer. I sprayed the bottom of this pyrex measuring glass then used it to press. Worked like a charm.
Sprinkle the tops of the bars with extra freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries for a festive touch (totally optional) then let the bars setup for 20 minutes or so. Slice, then serve!
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Strawberry-Blueberry Vanilla Chex Bars
Description
Strawberry-Blueberry Vanilla Chex Bars are no bake treat bars that are gluten free and perfectly festive for the 4th of July!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 10oz bag gluten-free mini marshmallows
- 13.5oz box Vanilla Chex
- 1/2 cup gluten-free white chocolate chips
- 1/2oz freeze-dried strawberries (not dried strawberries)
- 1/2oz freeze-dried blueberries (not dried blueberries)
Directions
- Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with nonstick spray then set aside.
- Add Vanilla Chex, chocolate chips, freeze-dried strawberries, and freeze-dried blueberries to a very large bowl then set aside.
- Add butter to a microwave-safe bowl then microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Add marshmallows then stir to coat and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until smooth then immediately pour over Chex mixture and mix until evenly coated. Scoop into prepared baking dish then press into an even layer (I sprayed the bottom of large measuring cup with nonstick spray then used that to press.) Top with extra crushed freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries for garnish, if desired, then let cool completely before cutting into bars.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Sweet, chewy, and ooey-gooey, you will got NUTS for these bars. Can’t wait to have them again next week! ;)
Wow! I just made these and couldn’t stop eating them. I didn’t understand the 1.2 ounces or whatever it said in the recipe so I just added the whole bag of both. Worked out fine. Way too delicious!
Haha, good to know! :)
Haha, I feel like such an IGE super fan because I remember when you announced you were going gluten-free my first thought was, “No! She won’t be able to have the Pepperidge farm cake!” I’ve been reading your blog since the beginning but am an almost-never commenter. The bars look great!
Awww, you are too sweet!!
Ok I’m sure the bars are great, but honestly I couldn’t even get to the recipe b/c I was so distracted by how adorable Lincoln is!!!
These look soooo good! I will definitely be making these next week…and probably every week after! I’m not gluten free but I LOVE vanilla Chex!
Your little ankle biter is too cute!
I made these a few weeks back for some friends. One of the husbands declare they were an edible form of “crack cocaine” … perfect description!! So yummy!
We LOVED the Strawberry Shortcake Bars you made originally, now I can’t wait to make these!
Happy birthday next week Kristin! These bars are so much fun and perfect for the Fourth of July! Love how simple and easy they are to make :) And Lincoln’s hair? LOVE!
too much sugar in different varieties
now, go less-real sugar
If you don’t like the recipe, just move on. Negativity is such a drag.
Love some Pepperidge Farms, thawed or not!! Bummer, but these treats look pretty fabulous too.
holy crap these look delicious. i’ve been craving all sorts of rice krispie type treats. the sugar is taking hold in a big way.
Goodness, those bars are gorgeous! A perfect 4th of July colored treat. I keep seeing the freeze-dried berries at TJ’s but haven’t tried them yet. This is a perfect reason to try :)
We are traveling 17hrs to Florida on July 3rd (to arrive on July 4th) so these will DEFINITELY be in the mix of our car snacks. Thanks SO MUCH for the great festive idea!
Gluten-free or not… I’m so loving the look of these! Vanilla Chex is the best, so I’m pretty sure I would absolutely love these bars!
O goodness. Those sounds amazing! Awesome it only take 10 minutes to make. Thanks for sharing! And your dad’s story was hilarious. lol
These look delicious! I’ve made your strawberry shortcake version with strawberries and blueberries and they taste amazing! We can’t have dairy in our house (along with a bunch of other food allergies. Basically we are meat eating, gluten-free vegan’s who also avoid nuts and corn), so I skip the white chocolate chips, but they are still great! Thanks for sharing so many recipes that can easily be adapted to our food allergy lifestyle!
I’m dabbling in dairy-free too – can you tell me what you used instead of butter? I was thinking about trying coconut oil to see if that worked!
I use Earth Balance vegan butter. My daughter (who has the food allergies related to eczema) is suppose to avoid coconuts too. I’ve heard from a lot of people that coconut oil works great though!
Ahh, ok – great, thanks for the tip!
YUMMMMMMMMMM! These look so good I can already imagine the taste! Must go to TJ’s tonight and get started!
Oh my, I have a Pepperidge cake sitting in the deep freeze that’s been there for 3 years and after seeing your delicious Nilla Chex Bars….is gonna stay there for another 3 years. (I’d give it away but the neighbors are all on diets and get made at me if I give them desserts).
Happy Birthday! Love that name Lincoln. And the curls, of course =) Happy Wednesday!
Is that “1/2oz each freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries” or “1.2 oz each freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries”? [like the whole bag?] THANKS — they sound super yummy!
1/2oz – so roughly half the bag. :)
Happy almost birthday! I would take these over frozen cake any day. :)
These look perfect for the 4th and for your birthday. Happy Birthday! Lincoln’s curls…so cute! Don’t cut them yet…