Black Raspberry Oatmeal Bars

These wonderful chewy gooey fruit filled bars are super quick and easy to prepare, using a cake mix! Great with a cuppa. Based on a recipe from Allrecipes.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4ounce) package  yellow cake mix
• 2 1⁄2 cups quick-cooking oats, divided
• 1⁄2 cup butter, melted
• 1⁄2 cup applesauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (10 ounce) jar  seedless black  raspberry preserves
• 1  teaspoon water
• 1  teaspoon lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 and grease a 9X13 pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, 2 cups of the oats, butter, applesauce, and vanilla. Add the remaining oats a little at a time until the mixture just starts to form big clumps. (Discard the rest.).
3. In a separate bowl, mix the preserves, water, and lemon juice. Press 1/2 the crust dough in the pan. Slather on the preserve mixture, keeping away from the very edges so the fruit doesn't burn. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture on top.
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the top crust is lightly browned.