Make Your Own Fruit Snack Bars

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As part of my New Year’s Resolution to cut out refined and processed foods, that also means from Stella’s diet, I decided I would try to make my own fruit bars for her lunch.  Stella loves the fruit bars that I buy at the health food store, but after reading the ingredients I thought I could do better on the ingredients.  Stella likes these in her lunch, for her soccer practice snack or just about anytime.  I found a recipe on www.eatingwell.com and made some changes to it.

Apple and Cinnamon Fruit Bars

Crust Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecan, almonds) – I used pecans
1/2 cup oats
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (I used just whole wheat flour)
3/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt (if using unsalted butter)
4 Tbl cold butter, cut into small pieces (I did not have unsalted, so I omitted the salt)
1 large egg
2 Tbl olive oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract (I did not have so I used vanilla)

Filling Ingredients

6 cups apple – peeled and diced
1/2 cup apple cider (I substituted with white grape juice)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I did not measure, just sprinkled on)
1 tsp vanilla

1. To make the crust – combine 3/4 cup of the nut and oats mixture (place the other 1/4 cup in a separate bowl), whole wheat flour, white flour, sugar and if using salt in a food processor, pulse in nuts and oats are finely ground.

2. Add the butter and pulse to it is well mixed in.

3. In a bowl combine the egg, oil, vanilla, whisk together.  With the food processor on add the egg mixture in.  Process and then pulse, scraping down the sides – the mixture will begin to clump – it is ready.

4. Take 1/2 cup of the mixture and add to the 1/4 cup nut and oats mixture.

5. Grease a 9 x 13″ pan with butter or oil.  Pour the crust mixture into the pan.  Spread and then firmly press down to form the crust.  Set aside.

6. To make the filling – in a medium sized pot combine 4 cups of the apples, cinnamon, cornstarch and apple juice.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes very thick.  Stir in the remaining 2 cups of apples and the vanilla – Mix.

7. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

8. Spread the filling over the crust, cover the crust evenly with the filling.

9. Sprinkle the topping over the filling (this is the nuts, oats and crust mixture that was set aside).  After I sprinkled the topping – I thought it needed more so I took a handful of oats and sprinkled over.

10. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn the oven to 350 degrees and cook an additional 25 – 30 minutes.

11. Take the bars out and place on a rack – let cool completely before cutting (at least  1 1/2 hour).

12. Cut bars and enjoy!

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