close up of cut fruit bar
May 17, 2020

Oat and Fruit Bars

By Ange's Table

Good morning.  And how are you doing on this Sunday morning?

We were finally able to bring our camper to the campground for the season.  Yay!!  All of the public areas are closed for now, but I am just so glad to have another place to go to that I feel 100% safe.  There is nothing like going away for a few days, but knowing that it is my food that I will eat, my shower to get clean in, and my bed to sleep in at night.

I love seeing different places, but I have always had a bit of anxiety about those things.  Who else cleans their hotel bathroom before using?  Or God forbid there is a hair left from someone else????  NO THANK YOU!  

I am looking forward to the fresh mountain air.  Watching the chipmunks run around, going for long walks that lead to no where and waving from afar to people that I haven’t seen in months.  And while I’m on my walk, I can bring these fabulous Oat and Fruit bars with me.

I saw a video on Tasty several years ago with an apple granola bar, and thought “I can do that.”  I don’t have the exact recipe or who shot the video, but thank you whomever you are!

banana mix for fruit bars
Mix your wet ingredients in a medium bowl
banana mixed ready for fruit bars
I can eat just this with a spoon
dry ingredients for fruit bars
Mix your dry ingredient with the melted shortening
use measuring cup to press dry for fruit bars
The back of the measuring cup is helpful to press into the pan
dry all pressed into pan for fruit bars
Make sure you get the bottom crust all the way to the sides of the pan
spread prepared fruit over dry for fruit bars
Spread the fruit mixture evenly
gently press topping for fruit bars
Gently press the crumble topping into the fruit mixture
fruit bars out of oven
Looking good
close up of cut fruit bar
These bars are so deliciously chewy
fruit bar wrapped up
Wrap individually in parchment paper for freshness
wrapped fruit bars ready for fridge
All ready for the week

Oat and Fruit Bars

Based on a video from Tasty 
For the bars:
  • 3/4 cup palm shortening, melted
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 2 cups oat flour
  • 1 cup coconut sugar
For the filling:
  • 2 Tbsp-1/4 cup coconut sugar, to taste
  • 1-2 Tbsp tapioca starch
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups fruit
Or 
  • 1 cup preserves

Preheat oven to 350’F.

Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper, making sure to go up the sides as well.

Combine all ingredients for the bars in a medium bowl until well mixed.  Set aside.

In another medium bowl, combine your fruit and cinnamon.  Mix well, taste.  Add up to 1/4 cup coconut sugar if needed.  Add in tapioca starch and set aside.  Use up to 2 Tbsp, depending on how wet your fruit is.  Banana might require less than sliced peaches.

If using preserves, mix in a bowl until it is all broken up.  Add in cinnamon and 2 Tbsp tapioca starch.  Set aside.

Pour 2/3 of your dry mixture onto the parchment lined pan.  Press down to create the crust.  Try to have it go up the sides a little.

Evenly spread your fruit mixture onto the oat base going all the way to the edges.

Sprinkle your remaining oat mixture evenly over the top, making sure no fruit is visible.  Gently press down into fruit mixture.

Bake 45 minutes -1 hour until the top is nice and brown.

Cool completely in pan.

Use the parchment to lift the oat bars out of the pan. 

Slice into desired sizes.  These bars are best stored in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

We love these bars in our house.  I have made them with apple, banana, raspberry preserves with chocolate chips, blueberry preserves.  Really, you can use whatever fruit you love.  Leave a comment below, or tag us on Instagram @Anges_Table and show us how you make your Oat and Fruit Bars.