Apple and Oat Bars

When life gives you apples… um… bake lots of things with apples in them?

We were given yet another big bag of apples this week, and since my freezer is already full of apple sauce, and I can’t face cutting, dipping and drying any more apple slices, the only thing left to do is bake with them.

We’ve made chunky apple bread, and apple muffins, and baked apple pancakes and today we made some awesome apple and oat bars

These bars are what happens when a muesli bar combines with an oat cookie, and they are delicious!

They are chewy but soft, and cinnamon-ey, and apple-y, and perfect for afternoon tea.

You need to use ‘quick cook oats’ for this recipe, but if you don’t have any just wizz some regular rolled oats in the food processor until they are chopped up a line more finely, but don’t turn them into powder!

You can use wholemeal flour for this recipe and feel free to change the coconut oil for butter if you like, but don’t forget the cinnamon – you can’t combine apple and oats without cinnamon.

Apple and Oat Bars

Yield: 15 bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Eat these delicious apple oat bars while they are still warm!

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Ingredients

• 1 cup plain or wholemeal flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon (or more!)
• 1/2 tsp all spice or nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of coconut oil, melted
• 2 cups quick cook oats
• 1 1/2 cups grated apple (approx 2 large apples)
• cinnamon sugar to sprinkle (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180 Celsius (approx 350 F) and line a 20 x 20cm (8 inch) brownie pan with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and spices and mix well.
3. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the melted coconut oil and egg mixing them together as you incorporate the dry ingredients.
4. Add the oats and apple and combine well.
5. Press the mixture into the brownie pan and sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake for 25 minutes or until the mixture is firm to touch and starting to brown around the edges.
7. Allow to cool completely before cutting into pieces.

You really do need to wait till they cool if you want to be able to cut them into nice neat pieces, but if you don’t mind a soft, crumbly mess, then eat them with a spoon straight out of the oven cause they are delicious warm!

These keep well in a sealed container and if you cut them when they are completely cooled they travel pretty well too so they are great in lunch boxes.

What is your favourite thing to cook with apples?

I’ve still got a heap of apples waiting to be eaten so I’m still looking for delicious apple ideas. If you’ve got a favourite apple recipe let me know in the comments below!