Apple Breakfast Bars

A friend passed this recipe along to me a while back.   I pulled it out because I needed something quick and easy to eat on the mornings I have to run out of the house early.   I thought my kids would love it - they didn't.   My kids don't like dried fruit very much and these have dates in them.   Hubby loved it, though and they are the perfect answer for what I needed. 

So, I'm sharing it with you.  Maybe your kids will love them!  And, look Ma, no oil, sugar or butter in these!

Apple Breakfast Bars

• 1 1/2 cup quick rolled oats (you can use regular rolled oats but the texture will be different - see note below)
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup orange juice or fresh juice from an orange
• 1 1/2 cups raw apples, shredded

Combine all ingredients.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Press mixture into an 8x8 baking dish. I did rub a little butter on the pan so they would not stick.  Bake at 375F degrees until lightly browned., about 25 minutes.   Regular oats might take a little longer to cook.   Loosen with spatula and cut into bars while still warm.  They are tasty warm but I enjoyed them the next day, cooled, also.

Shredding apples on my Saladmaster machine. 

All Mixed up

 

Pressed into the 8x8 baking dish

Done!

I promise they taste better than they look.  Hubby and I ate them in 2 days.



A word about oats:  What is the difference between Quick, Rolled, Steel cut?
Very simply -   The way they are cut.
So, beginning with steel cut you are getting a less processed  oat.  From what I've read, that doesn't necessarily mean the quick are still not a healthy option.  They are still oats - just cut more finely.  Rolled and quick oats are quickly steamed during processing so that they cook faster.

With each type of oats the consistency is different.    We eat the regular rolled oats around here.  I use the quick to bake with as it seems to create a less-chewy consistency that my kids will eat.  We never eat the instant packaged oatmeal - they are loaded with sugar and salt.   I used to make a homemade "instant oatmeal" but my kids prefer the regular oats.   

The nutritional content as far as calories, fiber and protein are exactly the same in all of them which leads me to think that the vitamins are probably close to the same even though the rolled and quick go through a little more processing.  

It's probably a Good, Better, Best situation.  Good being quick, better being regular rolled, best being steel-cut as they are likely the most nutrient-dense.    All in all, though - I think it's up to you and if you have any of the three in your family's diet you are doing great.   Again, this is only my opinion and my experience.   You can Google steel cut vs. rolled. vs.quick oats and find a plethora of opinions on the matter.

Submitted to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam