Apple Crumble Bars Recipe

INGREDIENTS

BASE AND STREUSEL TOPPING
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt

FILLING

1/2 cup apple butter
4 ounces dried apple
4 ounces dried cherries, raisins or other fruit
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Non-stick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

BASE AND STREUSEL TOPPING:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the bottom of an 8-inch baking pan non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place the flour, oats, sugars, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse 6 times about 3 seconds per pulse until some of the oatmeal is finely chopped and some are still large and whole.
3. Drizzle in the melted butter, toss with a fork and then pulse until the mixture comes together, about 8 times
4. Press two-thirds of the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Squeeze spoonfuls of the remaining mixture in your palm to make chunks, some large, some smaller, and place in a bowl.
5. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate both the base and the chunks for 30 minutes.

FILLING:

1. Place the apple butter, dried fruit, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons water in the cleaned bowl of the food processor and pulse to a chunky paste. Spread the filling over the chilled base. Scatter the streusel topping over the filling, leaving some of the filling showing through.
2. Bake until the streusel is toasty and crisp, about 30 minutes.
3. Cool completely (about 2 hours) on a rack before slicing into 16 squares.

Yields: 16 squares

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Calories 183
Total Fat 7.5g
Saturated Fat 4.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.1g
Cholesterol 19mg
Sodium 28mg
Potassium 73mg
Carbohydrates 31.5g
Fiber 2.0g
Sugars 18g
Protein 1.8g