Nutritious Fall Snack~ Oatmeal Raisin Bars

I love the flavors of fall. Cinnamon is one of fall’s favorite flavors. It goes great with most of fall’s favorites like apples, pumpkins, zucchini bread, and winter squash.

Fall is also when I start craving warm a warm bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Especially with cinnamon! I have a recipe to share with you today from Nature’s Path that incorporates both of these fall favorite flavors. These oatmeal raisin bars are tasty and healthy at the same time.

I have to say I’m a huge Nature’s Path fan, I love their cereals, so I was excited when they sent me this recipe to share. Nature’s Path Cereals are organic, whole grain cereals, so they’re good for you and delicious at the same time.

Oatmeal Raisin Bar

Ingredients:

• 4 pouches Nature’s Path® Multigrain Raisin Spice Instant Hot Oatmeal, uncooked
• 1/2 c. whole wheat or spelt flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. packed brown sugar
• 4 oz. (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more to grease pan
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten or egg replacer
• 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Set oven rack in bottom third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8″x 8″ or 9″x 9″ pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another bowl, use a fork to mash brown sugar into butter. Then use a rubber spatula to blend thoroughly.
4. Blend in eggs or egg replacer and applesauce.
5. Stir wet ingredients and walnuts into dry ingredients until all flour is absorbed.
6. Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth off top. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate pan. Continue baking until browned around edges and top bounces back when gently pressed, 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Set on a rack to cool completely. Run a knife along the edges. Cut cake in half. Then cut each half into 8 bars. Store in a well-sealed container for up to 5 days.

These bars would be great for kids lunch boxes, or for after school snacks.