Oatmeal Apple Bars

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I am always on the look out for 'healthier options' for breakfast which is fun and tasty too! I got to know about this amazing bars when a fellow foodie shared it on a Facebook group - A Shared Meal. The only thing that I did different was to add some chopped almonds. The toasty nuts added a nice crunch to it!

Ingredients: (about 8 to 10 servings)

• Whole wheat flour - 1 Cup
• Oat Flour - 1/2 Cup (just blitz about 1/2 cup of rolled oats in the mixer)
• Rolled Oats (or Quick cooking oats) - 1 Cup
• Baking Powder - 1 tsp
• Baking Soda - 1 tsp
• Apple Pie Spice - 1 tsp (or replace with cinnamon)
• Cinnamon - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Honey - 3 tbsp
• Butter - 1 stick(or 8 tbsp/half cup), chilled and cut into cubes
• Apples - 2 big, washed
• Lemon Juice - 1 tsp
• Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
• Almonds - 1/3 Cup, roughly chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x9 glass baking pan and keep it aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together oat flour (you can substitute it with whole wheat flour), whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, apple pie spice (if using) and salt. Add the cubed butter and honey and cut in with a pastry cutter or 2 knives. You can use your hands as well, but the warmth of your hand may start melting the butter, especially if it is a warm day. Mix well, till the mixture turns crumbly. Add the rolled oats and mix it in using the pastry cutter or two knives. Make sure to distribute the oats evenly in the mixture.

Measure out 2 Cups of this mixture and spread it out on the greased pan. Using the heels of your hands or the back of a spoon press it down firmly.

Peel and cut both the apples into 1/4 inch pieces. Do not discard the peels. Measure out 2 Cups of diced apples into a bowl. In a blender or mixer add the remaining apples, apple peels, vanilla extract and lemon juice and give it a good whisk or two till everything gets incorporated. Then blend till smooth. Pour the apple puree into the bowl with diced apples and using a spatula gently combine.

Now pour the apple mix on the oatmeal layer in the glass bake-ware and spread it out using a spatula. Crumble the remaining dough on top of the apple layer and press down gently.

Lastly sprinkle the chopped almonds, if using.

Bake it at 350 F for 25 to 30 minutes till it starts turning golden brown.

Let the bars cool completely in the pan and then chill it. Chilling will make it easier to cut into bars. Stayed good in a air-tight container for 5 days. We refrigerated it, and took it out about 30 minutes before eating. The Oatmeal Apple Bars are calorie dense and these, along with an egg made for a pretty filling breakfast.

Recipe from here!