#42 Fruity Berry Oat Bars

Here you'll see somewhat of a rare occurrence. I made a dessert without chocolate. Or peanut butter. Or even cream cheese, I'm sad to say. But even without all those, this dessert is still towards the top of my favorites list.

Now, I've never understood how someone can love not-as-sweet desserts. I'm a little ashamed to admit there have only been a handful of times I could only have a couple bites of a dessert because it was too sweet. BUT! If you are one of those people, welcome to your new favorite treat! These Fruity Berry Oat bars are just sweet enough to satisfy your craving, and they're very versatile.

They're versatile because you can use any type of berry you want and any type of fruit spread. I used a mix of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries and used raspberry fruit spread. But, if you prefer strawberry fruit spread and only blueberries, go right ahead. Or use any combination your heart desires.

Even though these delicious bars aren't quite as sweet as what I'm used to, there still is sugar (and a decent amount of it) in this recipe. Therefore, when I make these again, I'm going to try and substitute some healthier ingredients for the sugar and butter. Then, we could have a fruity dessert without all the sugar that is equally tasty!

One of my friends is the "This dessert is too sweet for me" person. (I know, how am I friends with such people?! Just kidding!) She ate about three of these bars and thought they were great. Even me, the one who loves chocolate and cream cheese desserts, thought these were awesome. So, no matter if you prefer super rich or "just-sweet-enough" desserts, these will please both! They're super simple and make your house smell great. And those are just a couple additional perks to actually eating them. :)

Fruity Berry Oat Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 40 minutes. Total time: 50 minutes

Yields: 8x8 or 9x9 pan; about 12 bars

Ingredients:

3/4 cup margarine
1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup quick oats (or substitute with more rolled/old-fashioned oats)
1 1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup berries, fresh or frozen and thawed
1/2 cup berry fruit spread (I used Seedless Raspberry Fruit Spread)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, melt margarine. Add in rolled oats, quick oats, 1 1/4 cup flour and sugar. Combine, stirring until mixture is crumbly. Set aside 1 heaping cup of this mixture. Place remainder of mixture into prepared pan and press down evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon flour, berries, fruit spread, almond extract and coconut. When crust is finished baking, top with fruit mixture. Top fruit mixture with remaining oat mixture and gently press down. Bake for 20-25 additional minutes.

4. Remove from oven and let cool at least 20 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. (I prefer warm.) Cover and store leftovers at room temperature or in the fridge. 

Enjoy!


Click here to print recipe!

*Note: Nutrition facts may vary due to brand of products.

Recipe adapted from

http://www.womaninreallife.com/p/recipes_30.html?recipe_id=6017949