Now just follow these simple steps to make a batch of healthy Oatmeal Apple Breakfast Bars:
1. Preheat the oven to 350F and butter a 9″x9″ glass baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Add butter and honey and cut with a pastry cutter, two knives or your hands until the mixture is moist and crumbly, about the size of peas. (Do not cheat and use a stand mixer to do this for you otherwise the bars will not turn out.)
3. Add oats and again, use a pastry cutter, two knives or your hands to evenly distribute the oats Be sure to not allow the butter to melt.
4. Measure 2 cups of this mixture and press down into the bottom of the prepared glass pan.
5. Peel one apple and set peel aside. Dice the apple into ¼” pieces. (Resist the temptation to slice apples thinly, instead of in chunks.) Measure 2 cups worth into a medium bowl. Repeat with the second apple if additional apple is needed to reach 2 cups. (I used 1¼ large apple to reach 2 cups.)
6. Place the peels and any remaining apple along with vanilla and lemon juice into a blender and puree until mostly smooth. It is okay if some pieces are large, but no larger than ¼”. Add this mixture to the diced apples and stir to combine well.
7. Pour apples evenly over the dough. Using a spatula, evenly distribute and press down the apple mixture.
8. Crumble the remaining dough evenly over the top and again, press down lightly.
9. Bake until the top is golden brown, approximately 25-30 minutes. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting.
10. Cutting the bars before they have completely cooled will cause the bars to crumble.
11. When cutting, gently use a “sawing” motion, rather than a slice and drag, in order to get a better “bar.”
12. Store in the refrigerator. Bars will be even more “bar” once chilled.
Note: If you want, substitute chunky applesauce (1/2-3/4 cup) in place of the apples for a delicious variation.
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Source: Tiffany Terczak