Cherry Oat Bars Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. In another bowl, combine the butter, honey, eggs and vanilla. Stir into oat mixture until combined. Set aside 1-1/3 cups for topping., Press remaining oat mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Combine preserves and dried cherries; spread over crust. Sprinkle with coconut and reserved oat mixture; press down lightly., Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
• BEAT butter and brown sugar in medium bowl until smooth and fluffy. Beat in extract. Mix in flour, baking powder and oats until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1/2-cup for topping. Pat remaining crumbs into bottom of prepared pan.
• SPOON preserves evenly over crumb crust in pan. Sprinkle with reserved crumb topping.
• BAKE 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-by-8-inch pan with oil and line with parchment paper.
• Combine oats, cherries, dates, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, combine almond butter, flaxmeal, applesauce, honey, orange juice, and vanilla and stir to combine. Add wet mix to dry one and stir to combine. Press mixture evenly into pan with your fingers and bake on middle rack until golden brown and firm, 30 minutes. Let cool completely, then remove from pan and cut into 9 squares.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Prepare a 9x13 pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, oats and butter until butter has been evenly distributed and entire mixture is crumbly. (See Note #1 at end for directions to make a lower-fat option).
• Press TWO-THIRDS the oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• In a separate bowl, mix the preserves with water and spread over the crust. (See Note #2 at end, regarding jam).
• Add pecans to the remaining ONE THIRD oat mixture and crumble this over the top, allowing some of the cherry filling to show through.
• Bake 375 for 28-30 minutes (34-36 minutes if you are doing the lower-fat option), or until the top is lightly browned and the center doesn't collapse when you press lightly.
• For best results, cut into bars after the bars are set and cooled (I like to cover with foil and cut into bars the next day).
• NOTE #1: For lower-fat option, instead of 3/4 cup butter, use 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup applesauce.
• NOTE #2: A 10 oz. jar of Smuckers "Simply Fruit" is about 1 cup. Use the whole jar.