Banana Oatmeal Bars

Prep Time:

15 min

Cook Time:

30 min

Total Time:

45 min

Servings:

Our recipe for Banana Oatmeal Bars is a chewy make ahead dessert or snack made with fun and flavorful ingredients. Along with bananas, these oatmeal bars are made with orange juice to add a bit of tang.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped banana (about 2 medium)
2/3 cup Tropicana® or Dole ® orange juice*
1 ½ tsp apple pie spice or ground cinnamon, divided
1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/2 lb (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

How to make it

1

Heat oven to 375°F.
2

In medium bowl, combine dried fruit, banana, orange juice and 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice; set aside.
3

In medium bowl, combine flour, oats and remaining 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice; mix well.
4

In large bowl, beat margarine and sugar together with electric mixer until creamy.
5

Add oat mixture; beat until crumbly.
6

Reserve 3/4 cup mixture for topping.
7

Press remaining oat mixture onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
8

Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown.
9

Spread fruit evenly over crust to within 1/4-inch of edge.
10

Add nuts to reserved oat mixture; mix well.
11

Sprinkle evenly over fruit; pat down lightly.
12

Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
13

Cool completely; cut into bars.
14

Store loosely covered.