How to Make Chewy Oatmeal Spice Bars

Combining the convenience of bars with low-fat ingredients, this recipe from the Quaker Oatmeal Kitchens is both quick to make and good for you. Makes about 32 bars.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Groceries
• Baking Pans
• Mixing Bowls
• Rubber Spatula
• Wire Whisks
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup apple butter or applesauce
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 egg whites or 1 egg
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 c. butter or margarine - softened
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins or other diced dried fruit
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. skim milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat margarine or butter and sugars together in a large bowl until blended.
3. Add apple butter, egg whites, milk and vanilla and beat well.
4. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a smaller bowl.
5. Add flour mixture to the mixture in the larger bowl and mix well.
6. Stir in oats and raisins.
7. Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
8. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until edges are light golden brown.
9. Remove from oven, cool completely and cut into bars.
10. Store in a tightly covered container.

Tips & Warnings

• You can omit the nutmeg and/or salt if desired.
• You can make this recipe into individual cookies, as well: just drop rounded spoonfuls onto greased baking sheets and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes.