Apple Oat Bars

Tasty, nutritious and great for beginner bakers, these bars are packed with fall apples. Enjoy them as a quick breakfast, lunchbox snack or dessert.

Ingredients:

4 apples

¾ cups (12 tbsp.) unsalted butter OR coconut oil

¾ cups honey OR maple syrup

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup sunflower seeds

3 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

1½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. baking powder

1 cup applesauce

½ cup dried cranberries OR raisins

Equipment:

Peeler
Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Oven
Measuring cups and spoons
2 large mixing bowls
8 x 12 inch rimmed baking sheet OR casserole dish
Rubber spatula
Pot holders
Timer

Ingredients:

4 apples

¾ cups (12 tbsp.) unsalted butter OR coconut oil

¾ cups honey OR maple syrup

2 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup sunflower seeds

3 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

1½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. baking powder

1 cup applesauce

½ cup dried cranberries OR raisins

Equipment:

Peeler
Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Oven
Measuring cups and spoons
2 large mixing bowls
8 x 12 inch rimmed baking sheet OR casserole dish
Rubber spatula
Pot holders
Timer

Directions:

  1. Wash the apples, then peel, core and chop them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  3. While the oven is warming up, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Use a spoonful of the melted butter to grease a rimmed baking sheet.
  4. In a large bowl, mix 2 cups of whole wheat flour, oats, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder.
  5. Make a hole in the center of the bowl and add the melted butter and honey. Mix well with the dry ingredients.
  6. Pat down ⅔ of the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking sheet. Using the back of a spoon is helpful to make it even all the way to the edges. Leave the rest of the crust mixture in the bowl while you make the filling.
  7. For the filling, combine the prepared apples, applesauce, and cranberries in a second bowl and mix well.
  8. Spoon the filling on top of the crust in the baking pan and then spread it out flat and even.
  9. Sprinkle the rest of the crust mixture over the top.
  10.  Ask for an adult’s help to place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes or until the top of the apple mixture is lightly browned and the apples are easily pierced with a fork.
  11.  When the pan comes out of the oven, really pat down the mixture with a spatula to help the bars hold together. Then allow to completely cool for 15-30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Adapted from Chop Chop Family