Cookies can be much more than just a sweet treat, so why not forgo the chocolate chips and try these kicked-up oatmeal cookie bars instead?
Not quite a cookie, not quite a granola bar, these soft-baked cookie bars fall somewhere in the middle and are a delicious go-to favourite for school lunches, an easy anytime snack or a simple treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
Lunch box cookie bars
Serving size 18
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup stone-ground whole-wheat flour or an enriched flour such as Nutri Flour Blend from Robin Hood
- 1/2 cup oat bran
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-1/4 cups dried fruit, such as raisins or cranberries
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan with butter or cooking spray.
- If using raisins, pour 2 cups of hot water into a medium bowl, add the raisins, and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Using a mixer in a medium bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, applesauce, honey and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats and oat bran. Mix in the salt, baking soda and cinnamon.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, and mix.
- Drain the raisins, pat them dry, and stir them into the mixture.
- Pour into the greased baking pan, and bake for approximately 25 minutes, until browned and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven, and let sit in the pan until the bars have completely cooled.
- Store the bars in an airtight container.
- Cut into squares or bars to serve.
For another yummy treat, try this vegan cookie recipe >>
Note:
If you still need to get your chocolate fix, don’t worry. You can easily switch out the raisins for any type of dried fruit, nut or baking chip, including chocolate chips!
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