Fruit Bars Recipes

Steps:

• In mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda.
• Cut in margarine/butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the flour mixture.
• Press remaining flour mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2 baking pan.
• Spread with desired filling.
• Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture.
• Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Cut into bars.
• FILLING OPTIONS:.
• ***Following cookbook's 'shortcut' suggestion of substituting 10 oz jar of preserves in place of homemade filling, I used a store-bought, very dense, low-moisture apple butter (like a thick jam). I have also tried it with blueberry preserves but the preserves were too moist--it made the bars sticky not good.***.
• RAISIN FILLING:.
• In medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Add 1 cup raisins. Cook & stir until thickened & bubbly.
• APPLE-CINNAMON FILLING:.
• Peel/core/chop 2 medium apples. In medium saucepan, combine apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a dash of ground cloves. Bring apple mixture to a boil; reduce heat & simmer 8-10 minutes or until apples are very tender.
• APRICOT-COCONUT FILLING:.
• In medium saucepan, combine 1 cup diced dried apricots and 3/4 cup water. Bring apricot mixture to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon all purpose flour. Stir into apricot mixture. Cook and stir 1 minute more or until mixture is very thick. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Coat a 10x14-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine brown sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Mix together whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and allspice in a separate bowl. Gradually pour flour mixture into the butter mixture; blend well. Stir in oats and mix with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Press 1/2 of the oat batter firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Spread strawberries and blueberries over the crust and sprinkle with remaining oat batter. Press slightly to flatten batter and fruit. Bake until edges are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. Cut into 24 bars.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat sugar and eggs until blended. Beat in fruit cocktail and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture until well blended. , Pour into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with coconut and walnuts. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. , In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, butter and milk to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Drizzle over cake. Cool. Cut into bars.