Fruited Oatmeal Bars Recipes

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.

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.

FRUITED LOWFAT OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Spray 7x11 or 9x9 pan with non-stick spray.
• Mix wet ingredients (first 5 in list).
• Mix dry ingredients (oatmeal through spice) in a large bowl.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, adding in remaining fruits and optional nuts as you gently mix everything together.
• Pat into prepared baking pan.
• Bake 325 for 22-24 minutes for a glass pan. Note - Aluminum pans may take a bit longer than the time listed for a glass pan.
• Makes 18 squares (9x9 pan makes 16 squares).

STRAWBERRY OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan.
• Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spread with the strawberry preserves. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.

NO-BAKE OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Grease bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with small amount of butter.
• In 3-quart saucepan, heat sugar, butter, honey and cinnamon to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in dried fruit. Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Press mixture in pan with back of wooden spoon. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

GRANDMA'S OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, combine dates, water and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened and dates are tender, stirring constantly, 7-9 minutes. Remove from heat., In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, vanilla, baking soda, salt and almond extract. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Press half onto bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Carefully spread with date mixture. , Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling; press down gently. Bake until lightly browned, 25-30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

OAT AND DRIED-FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. Stir together oats, oat bran, flour, salt, ginger, figs, and cranberries in a large bowl. Whisk together egg whites, honey, buttermilk, applesauce, and oil in a small bowl. Stir into oat mixture.
• Spoon batter into oiled pan, spreading it into an even layer. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 12 equal rectangles. Bars will keep in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.