Because my time is often at the whimsy of the baby, there are times when I just don’t have the time to make a decent breakfast, lunch, or snack. I need something that’s satisfying and of course, tasty, so I thought I’d try to make some oatmeal bars. I searched online for an easy recipe that also didn’t include any dairy (since I seem to have retained a bit of lactose intolerance from my pregnancy). Below is the recipe that I plan on going with:

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats, either quick cooking or old fashioned
• 1 cup whole spelt or whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup packed natural brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup expeller pressed canola oil
• 5 tablespoons orange juice, divided
• 1/2 cup fruit sweetened black cherry preserves

Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine oats, flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, sunflower seeds and cherries in a large bowl. Add oil and 3 tablespoons orange juice, mixing well until all ingredients are fully combined. Reserve a half cup and press the rest into a lightly oiled 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice with the cherry preserves and spread evenly over the oat mixture in the pan. Sprinkle reserved oat mixture over the top and press down lightly with fingers. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Cool in the pan on a wire rack then cut into bars or squares. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 16 bars.

Nutrition Info
Per serving (1 bar/47g-wt.): 190 calories (80 from fat), 9g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 3g protein, 26g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 14g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium

Filed by Maria in food, recipes