Fruity Chocolate Oat Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE OAT SQUARES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Combine the oats, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Press two-thirds of oat mixture into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. , In a large saucepan, combine the milk, chocolate chips, salt and remaining butter. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat; stir in walnuts and remaining vanilla. Spread over the crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. , Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. 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.

CHEWY FRUIT AND OATMEAL BARS (BREAKFAST ON THE GO!)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• In large bowl combine sugars, yogurt,egg whites, oil, milk and vanilla; mix well.
• In medium bowl combine flour baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.
• Add dry ingredients to wet mix; mix well.
• Stir in oats and dried fruit.
• Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 13x9 baking pan.
• Bake 28-32 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool completely on wire rack.
• Cut into bars.
• Store tightly covered.

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.

OATMEAL BREAKFAST BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar and salt. Stir in remaining ingredients. Press into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 425° for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.