Apricot Oatmeal Bars

Apricot Oat Bars

(low glycemic/ no sugar added)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

1½ cups rolled oats

½ cup ground flax seeds

½ cup organic buckwheat flour or organic whole wheat flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg, optional

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp sea salt

1/3 cup honey, maple syrup or brown rice syrup (I used sugar free maple syrup, next time I'll try brown rice syrup to see if I can get a more chewy granola bar for something different. Mine were crunchy and crumbly. NOTE: if you change the sugar these bars will no longer be low glycemic.  Brown rice syrup- available at health food stores or online- would be the best alternative to honey or maple syrup.  It is not low glycemic, however, it is processed slower in your body and is more "stable".  Agave or Yacon syrup would be another choice although both are raw and would significantly lose their nutritional value if cooked. )

1/3 cup canola oil, corn oil (non-hydrogenated)or coconut oil (when baking make sure it's refined for medium to high heat)

½ tsp vanilla

 1/3 to ½ cup unsweetened apricot fruit spread (any no sugar added fruit spread will do but I like apricot with the spices used.)

Variation: add 1/3 cup of dried fruit and or nuts such as raisins and sunflower seeds for oatmeal raisin bars, or dried cranberries and pecans.  Maybe next time I’ll add a bit more flour and oats (like 2tbsp) and use this as a topping for an apple or other fruit crisp…

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine the dry ingredients. Once dry ingredients are combined add wet ingredients and mix well.  In an 8x8 baking dish press ½ of the oat mixture into the dish (like you’re making a crust). Evenly spread on the fruit spread. Add remaining oat mixture on top and gently press. Bake for 25 minutes and cool before cutting. Makes 8 rectangular bars.

 Make sure they cool completely before you cut them!