Apricot Oat Bars
Sweet apricot purée is layered between two crisp oat bases, packed with oats and dried fruit for a wholesome energy snack.
Ingredients
ready-to-eat dried apricots
1 cup
water
2 tbsp
whole wheat flour
2 1/3 cup
rolled oats
1 cup
salt
½ tsp
unsalted butter
1¾ cup
turbinado sugar
¾ cup
light corn syrup
2 tbsp
Instructions
1
Preheat and prepare the fruit
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a cake pan and line it with parchment paper. Place the dried apricots and water into a blender.
2
Make the fruit paste
Blend the apricots until they form a smooth paste. Set aside. Place the flour, oats, and salt in a mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.
3
Melt the syrup mixture
Over low heat, melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a saucepan. Stir the mixture occasionally until the butter has fully melted.
4
Combine the oat dough
Pour the butter mixture into the bowl with the flour, oats, and sugar. Stir until everything comes together into a sticky oat mixture.
5
Press the bottom layer
Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the cake pan and smooth it out to form an even layer. Carefully spread the apricot paste over the oat layer.
6
Add the top layer and bake
Press the remaining oat mixture over the apricot paste until it is fully covered. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the oat topping turns golden brown.
7
Cut and cool
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut the oat bars into squares, and let them cool completely in the pan before removing.
