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Apple berry oat bars recipe

“Tasty, energy bar with apple, plump blueberries, and luscious dried cranberries”

Wheat & gluten free apple berry oat bars recipe

Allergy Information

Wheat-Free no
Gluten-Free no
Nut-Free no
Dairy-Free no
Sugar-Free no
Vegetarian no
Vegan no
  • Preparation time: 10 mins
  • Cook time: 30 mins
  • Total time: 40 mins
  • Yield: makes 8 large bars

Summer (normally) heralds sun, shorts, lots of time enjoying the great outdoors, and if you live in certain locations... mosquitos. And what do mosquitos love? Humans to prey on. You may not know it but eating bananas in mosquito season is alleged to make you a lot more appetising to the vicious little bloodsuckers.

As the banana oat energy bars have proven such a hit with everyone, and the yearly 2 month mosquito season means swearing off bananas for the duration, I've adapted the recipe to use apples and blueberries instead. With fresh blueberries in the shops for the summer it's great to make the most of their tasty goodness. Please note: these bars won't be as solid or chewy as the banana oat energy bars.

This energy bar isn't laden with added sugar, just containing fruit sugars, and the oats help provide a sustained energy release, making it ideal for sport refuelling, or an office pick-me-up instead of that sugar loaded muffin calling your name at the coffee shop.

Important note: even using certified gluten free oats it may not be suitable for all celiacs; some celiacs are very sensitive to avenin contained in the oats, see our oats FAQ for more info.

Ingredients (Measures: Metric | US)

250g [2 1⁄4 cups] gluten free oats (regular, not quick or flake)
1 large [1 large] organic apples, cored and finely chopped (leave the skin on)
150g [1 cup] fresh blueberries
375ml [1 1⁄2 cup] unsweetened apple purée
60g [1⁄2 cup] dried cranberries (I used fruit apple sweetened ones)
45g [1⁄2 cup] unsweetened shredded coconut
30g [1⁄4 cup] chopped walnuts
2 tsp [2 tsp] chia seeds

Directions

Preheat oven: 180°C, 350°F, Gas 4

  1. Line a baking pan 23cm square (9" square) with baking paper.
  2. Put all the ingredients, except the blueberries, in a large bowl and mix together until they are well combined.
  3. Add the blueberries and gently fold them into the mixture, trying not to burst them.
  4. Tip into the baking pan and spread equally, press down firmly to consolidate.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and immediately lift the apple berry oat bars from the pan still in the baking paper, leave to cool on a wire rack.
  6. When cool, cut into 8 large bars or 16 smaller ones.
  7. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.
Author: Helen Fletton