Chef Joeys Oatmeal Fruit Nut Bars Recipes

CHEF JOEY'S OATMEAL, FRUIT & NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375'F.
• Lightly spray a 8x8 inch square baking dish with oil.
• Cream the margarine and brown sugar together until well blended.
• Stir in the oats, flour and toasted chopped hazelnuts. Mix well. Remove one cup of this mixture and set aside.
• Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan. Try to get it as even as you can.
• Mix the raisins and preserves well. Spread this mixture on top of the oat mixture leaving a 1 inch border around the edges without any raisin mixture.
• Sprinkle the reserved oat mixture on top of the fruit and press down lightly.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden.
• Cool these for about 10 minutes.
• Then, with a wet, sharp knife cut the squares into 16 pieces. Dip the knife in water every time you cut, this is sticky.
• Let the squares cool and cut again before removing.
• These are delicious warm or cold and would be great with a dollop of non-dairy whipping cream or some vanilla soy ice cream.
• Bon Appetit!

FRUIT-OAT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Coat a 10x14-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Mix together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and allspice in a separate bowl. Gradually pour flour mixture into the butter mixture; blend well. Stir in oats and mix with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Press 1/2 of the oat batter firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Spread strawberries and blueberries over the crust and sprinkle with remaining oat batter. Press slightly to flatten batter and fruit. Bake until edges are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. Cut into 24 bars.

FRUIT-FILLED OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda.
• Cut in margarine/butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the flour mixture.
• Press remaining flour mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2 baking pan.
• Spread with desired filling.
• Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture.
• Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Cut into bars.
• FILLING OPTIONS:.
• ***Following cookbook's 'shortcut' suggestion of substituting 10 oz jar of preserves in place of homemade filling, I used a store-bought, very dense, low-moisture apple butter (like a thick jam). I have also tried it with blueberry preserves but the preserves were too moist--it made the bars sticky not good.***.
• RAISIN FILLING:.
• In medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Add 1 cup raisins. Cook & stir until thickened & bubbly.
• APPLE-CINNAMON FILLING:.
• Peel/core/chop 2 medium apples. In medium saucepan, combine apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a dash of ground cloves. Bring apple mixture to a boil; reduce heat & simmer 8-10 minutes or until apples are very tender.
• APRICOT-COCONUT FILLING:.
• In medium saucepan, combine 1 cup diced dried apricots and 3/4 cup water. Bring apricot mixture to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon all purpose flour. Stir into apricot mixture. Cook and stir 1 minute more or until mixture is very thick. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut.

EASY-BAKE OVEN OATMEAL FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Mix shortening, sugar and salt.
• Add flour, baking soda, oats, and milk; mix well.
• Place 1/2 of mixture in a greased pan.
• Press down in pan with fingertips or back of spoon.
• Spread with 2 teaspoons apple sauce or marmalade.
• Bake about 21 minutes.
• Let cool and cut into slices.
• Use other half for second batch of cookies.

DATE OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place dates, water and sugar in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly., In a large bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt; stir in melted butter and egg white. Press half of the mixture into an 8-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Spread carefully with date mixture; top with remaining oat mixture. , Bake until lightly browned, 20-25 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.