My oatmeal obsession continues! If you've read my blog in the past you are already know how I feel about oatmeal. These bars started off being quite low fat. They were rather angelic, you could say, and then that little voice whispered "wouldn't those be even better with a little chocolate?" "You know they would be amazing with a chocolate topping and a sprinkle of nuts!" And with that, chocolaty temptation got the best of me. So it's up to you. These bars are very good just as they are and quite low-fat or like me, you can give into chocolate covered temptation. Come on you know you want too!
Oatmeal Fruit Bars (Printable Recipe)
Source: Quaker Oats.com, adapted
Ingredients
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
One 8-ounce container plain low-fat yogurt
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup diced dried mixed fruit, raisins, or dried cranberries
Preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, combine sugars, yogurt, egg whites, oil, milk, and vanilla; mix well. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. Add to yogurt mixture; mix well. Stir in oats and fruit.
Spread dough onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan.
Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until light golden brown. Let bars cool for 10-15 minutes before topping with chocolate (if using).
Totally optional but devilishly good topping:
6 ounces dark chocolate
2 Tbl. unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Place coarsely chopped chocolate and the butter in a microwave-safe container and microwave at MEDIUM (50 percent power) for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted.Spread melted chocolate over the cooled oatmeal bars. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Totally optional but devilishly good topping:
6 ounces dark chocolate
2 Tbl. unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Place coarsely chopped chocolate and the butter in a microwave-safe container and microwave at MEDIUM (50 percent power) for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the chocolate turns shiny. Remove the container from the microwave and stir the chocolate until completely melted.Spread melted chocolate over the cooled oatmeal bars. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
