Homemade Nutri-grain Bar Recipe

These days, I am just thrilled to have a moment to set down and eat a meal.  Between a new born, toddler and laundry time for momma is few a far between.  Because of the ever present choas that is my daily life I have been living off snacks.  The obvious problem with this is that food you can eat with one hand isn't always healthy.  So, I've been looking for some more healthy options.  Most store bought snack food are crazy over processed.  According to marketing, Nutri-grain bars are supposed to be healthy but it reality they are loaded down with all kinds of artificial crap that I can't pronounce.  There are a few all natural snacks on the market but they get expensive, fast.  This left me with the task of finding my own perfect recipe.  After trying a several different bars I came up with my own recipe.  I took this recipe for vegan nurti-grain bars and tweaked it to make a non-vegan version.  Okay, I kind of took a healthy recipe and made it a little less good for you.  What can I say, I like to bake using eggs.  Anyway, here is my recipe.  The bar isn't very sweet, which I think is a nice complement to the filling.  If you have a sweet tooth or aren't using a very sweet filling you might want to add a little more sugar.  These are super easy. I have been knocking out batches left and right.  If I can make these in my currant sleep deprived state they have to be simple.  Without further ado . . .



Nutrigrain Bars (adapted from Peas and Thank you).

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant)
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup oil or melted butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of milk
10 oz. jar of fruit preserves of your choice (I like Polaner All Fruit)

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In a small bowl combine eggs, oil and milk.  Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until entire mixture is moist. It will be a little bit crumbly.  Press half the mixture into the bottom of a 8 x 8 inch pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper.  I have an odd 8 x 11 inch pan that I use to get a thinner bar.  Spread the preserves evenly over the mixture. Then top with remaining mixture and press.  Bake in a 375 degrees over 20-24 minutes. Allow bars to cool before cutting.

Feel free to get creative!  Sometimes I add nuts or spices to the crust mixture.  Once I even used Nutella for the filling.  Amazing.  Okay, not super healthy but it has to be better for you than a chocolate pop tart.  Please try this recipe.  It will bring your tummy great joy.*  Not to mention the savings for your pocket book and the lack of wasteful packaging.  Win, win, win!

* Crap, now I have "Party in my tummy" in my head.  I can't decided if I love Yo Gabba Gabba or hate it.  Either way, I feel like I should take drugs when I am watching it.  So psychedelic.  Henry loves it and it isn't as bad a Barney (he is fan of shows with lots of music) so I guess it is here to stay. At least it makes me laugh.



Happy baking!