Oatmeal Fruit Bars Recipes

FRUIT-FILLED OATMEAL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture.
• Press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2-inch or 11x7x1-1/2-inch baking pan. Spread with desired filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Apricot Filling
• In a medium saucepan combine apricots and the water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sugar and flour; stir into apricot mixture. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until thickened and bubbly. Raisin Filling
• In a medium saucepan combine the water, sugar, and cornstarch. Add raisins. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Apple-Cranberry Filling
• In a medium bowl combine applesauce, cranberries, cinnamon, and cloves. Easy Filling
• Use bottled mincemeat or pie filling.

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.

BAKED OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square pan.
• Combine oats, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Whisk milk, eggs, canola oil, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Stir egg mixture into oats mixture until well combined; set aside until flavors blend, about 20 minutes. Spread oats mixture into prepared square pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden brown, about 30 minutes.

HEALTHY OATMEAL AND FRUIT BARS

Steps:

• Mix oats, flour and apple juice in a large bowl until lumps are gone. Stir in cinnamon and raisins.
• Mix vanilla in warm water; add to oat mixture; mix well. Stir in bananas, diced apples, fruit medley and walnuts.
• Let stand 15 minutes and mix again.
• Spray an 8 inch square pan with cooking oil and lightly flour pan.
• Bake at 325ºF. for 1 hour. Cool and cut in bars.
• NOTE: you can add 2/3 cup applesauce instead of the two mashed bananas, if you like.

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.

OATMEAL-FRUIT-NUT BARS (FROM SARA SNOW)

Steps:

• Stir together dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda and spices).
• In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars. Add in honey, eggs and vanilla. Slowly add in dry mixture and beat together. Stir in oats, applesauce, coconut, fruit and nuts.
• Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet; bake 12-14 minutes at 350.
• OR, if making bars,.
• Spread evenly into a large, glass baking pan; bake 20-25 minutes.