Berrylicious Oat Bars

After the success of the Coconut and Jam Roly Poly Biscuits, the tripolatas have been expecting more baked goodies. It's usually the first thing they ask me when I pick them up from school.

Knowing that I would eventually have to present something to them, I looked for some inspiration. I wanted something that was relatively healthy and required little effort, so cakes and biscuits were out of the question.

I considered making another Fruit Drops recipe, but kids being kids I didn't want to risk them getting bored. So I went in between, a fruity bar that had to be baked.

These oat bars are very simple to make and there's no limit to the combinations that you can conjure up. I've chosen a mix of berries (and currents), I didn't add any nuts as I wanted these to be chewy and chewy they are.

When we all got home I gave the tripolatas a small sample, which they wolfed down and, as expected, wanted more. I didn't make a large quantity so I've cut each bar in half and will ration them out. My niece and nephew are likely to be coming over this weekend so it will be nice to have a little left over for them. I can't guarantee that I'll have the time to make more and my niece always sighs heavily when she realises that my latest make has been polished off by her cousins the day before her arrival.

I am very pleased with these as my attempts at granola or oat bars don't usually turn out geeat. At last a recipe that really works.

So...here's what you'll need:

110g butter
1/2 cup honey
200g porridge oats
100g dried cranberries, chopped
60g dried strawberries, chopped
20g each bluesberries and black currant, chopped
2tsp chia seeds

Here's what you'll need to do: makes 12 bars

Preheat the oven to 175°c/350°f

1. Grease and line two loaf tins or one square tin.

2. Melt the butter and honey in a pan.

3. Meanwhile, combine the other ingredients in a bowl.

 

4. When the honey and butter have melted, pour them into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until everything is combined.

5. Transfer the mix to the tin/s and press down to ensure the mix is level.

6. Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

7. When baked, lift out the oats and cut into bars, leave the bars to cool and set. Mine were a little soft when I tried to cut them so I left them for a few minutes before cutting.

Eat and enjoy