Sweet Treat Friday

These Fruity Oatmeal bars are a quick fun treat for my kids either to have with their lunch or an afternoon snack. I like that it’s easy and quick to make, but best of all you can change it up how ever you like. I found this recipe in my trusted Better Homes and Garden Cookbook.

Called Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars

1 cup flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
2/3 packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter

For Filling–

You can use, one 21 ounce Cherry pie filling or peach filling, or 1 1/2 cups canned mincemeat,
**I have made this with homemade pie filling, as in instead of baking blueberry pie, made the filling and used it, prepared apples from an apple pie recipe and used it. Same with Cherry, peach and mincemeat. Tastes fresher, but if you want quick and easy use the canned stuff.**

For Apricot Filling– In med sized saucepan combine 1 cup snipped dried apricots and 3/4 cup water. Bring to boiling, reduce head. Simmer and cover for five minutes. Meanwhile combine 1/4 sugar and 1 tablespoon all purpose flour, stir into the apricot mixture. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until thickened and bubbly.

Apple-Cranberry filling– Combine 1 cup chunky applesauce 2/3 cup dried cranberries or blueberries (or any other fruit you want really) 1/2 teaspoon ground  cinnamon and a dash of ground cloves.

Raisin Filling– In a med. saucepan combine 3/4 cup water , 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Add 1 1/4 cups golden raisins. Cook and stir until thickened or bubbly.

Directions-

In a medium sized bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda. Using a pastry blender (or fork) cut in butter until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Set aside 1/2 cup of the mixture.
Press the rest into a 9x9x2 or 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan, ungreased. Spread with your choice of filling. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden. Cool on rack before cutting.

I love mixing things up, just like granola bars you can really just use whatever you have on hand to fill it with.
Make two batches to have all weekend long 🙂