Fruity Oat Bars

I am always looking for healthy, yet fun, snacks for the girls for when they come home from school. They always come home "so hungry", even if they just had a snack at school. And, of course, they rush for candy or fruit snacks. Which, of course, will make them crash and burn during homework time. These bars are perfect. They give them that boost of energy they need, plus, they have the little bit of sweet that they crave, and they are good for them. Bonus...they are easy.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried apricots (or 1 cup sugar-free preserves)

1/4 cup water

2 1/3 whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp light corn syrup

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease and line bottom of square cake pan with parchment paper. Add apricots and water to blender. (If using preserves, do not add water) Process the apricots until they are smooth (add more or less water, depending on the consistancy you like). Put the flour, oats, and salt in a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter has completely melted. Pour the butter mixture into the mixing bowl with the oats and flour. Stir until everything is combined. Press half of the mixture into cake pan and smooth it to make an even layer. Spread apricots (or preserves) over oat layer. Press the rest of the oat mixture on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the oats on top are golden. Let cool for 5 minutes. Divide the bars into squares and leave them to cool completely in the pan before removing.