Whole Grain Fruit-filled Bars

Image inspiration from Weelicious

If your kids are like mine they love those fruit-filled bars you can find at Costco or the grocery store. They're soft, chewy, and sweet... and I'm happy to buy a box once in a while because the bars would be too darn hard to make myself. Right? Wrong!

Fruit-bars are easy to make and you probably already have all the ingredients you need to make them. These bars are made in a food processor (YIPPY) and include healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour, oats and you can include your favourite local fruit preserves like Bonne Maman. YUM!

This recipe is from Catherine McCord from Weelicious ​and you're gonna love it. Happy baking friends.

Hugs
~ Jenny

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Whole Grain Fruit-filled Bars

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour *I used Ivory wheat flour (my fav)
1 1/2 cups quick cooking or old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup packed packed brown sugar *I used organic coconut sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons cold water
3/4 cup fruit preserves

Preparation 
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt. Pulse for 30 seconds.
3. Add the butter and cold water and use until the dough holds together when pressed.
4. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, line it with parchment paper, and grease the parchment paper.
5. Divide the dough mixture in half and press half into the prepared baking dish, using the back of a spatula to press down evenly.
6. Spread the preserves evenly on top of the dough. Sprinkle the remaining dough evenly on top of the preserves and gently press down using the back of a spatula. 
7. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. *I baked for 30min
8. Cool, cut into 1 1/2 x 4-inch bars, and serve.
TIP: Bars can be stored at room temperature up to 3 days or refrigerated up to a week.