Stories on Sunday--May 23rd--Fruit Bars

I love a good fruit bar that includes real fruit and grains.  What I don't love is all the crazy ingredients I read on the back of the labels of "said" bars.

I've been on a search/experimental journey to find a fruit bar snack to make my family happy :)

These fit the bill!  They are delicious.

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Oatmeal Fruit Bars

Ingredients

Crumb Mixture

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 c butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 

 Filling

 

1 1/2 c fruit preserves (I used strawberry)

1/2 c coconut

Directions

 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 13 by 9 glass dish.  

2.  Combine crumb mixture ingredients. Mix together with a stand or hand mixture until you have beautiful, fluffy like crumbs.

3. Reserve 1 cup of crumb mixture and press the rest of the crumb mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.  

 

4. Spread the fruit preserves evenly over the crumb mixture.

 

 

5. Sprinkle with coconut and even spread the remaining 1 c crumb mixture over the coconut.

6. Bake for 22-25 minutes until edges are brown.

7.  Cool completely and cut into bars.  Wrap in plastic wrap and store in the freezer (if you can keep any leftovers!).  These are very good straight from the freezer--still soft and yummy!

 

 

Eat up!!!

What other quick homemade snacks to you keep around that are toddler friendly?