Chewy Apple-Oatmeal Bars

Name: Chewy Apple-Oatmeal Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 2 dozen bars (approx)
Ingredients: 3/4 cup flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon cinnamon (can use more); 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup butter, room temperature; 1/4 cup Crisco shortening; 1 1/4 cups light-brown sugar, packed; 1 egg; 2 teaspoons maple extract (can use vanilla or 1 teaspoon each); 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats; 3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped; 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut, chopped; mini chocolate chips (optional) or nuts (optional); confectioners' sugar (optional)

Submitted by Kittencalrecipezazz

"A wonderful chewy treat, great for kid's lunchboxes and they freeze well, these bars can also be baked in a 11x7-inch baking pan."

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photo by looneytunesfan

Ready In:: 45mins
Ingredients:: 15
Yields:: 2 dozen bars (approx)

ingredients

³⁄₄ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon (can use more)
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking soda
¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
¹⁄₄ cup butter, room temperature
¹⁄₄ cup Crisco shortening
1 ¹⁄₄ cups light-brown sugar, packed
1 egg
2 teaspoons maple extract (can use vanilla or 1 teaspoon each)
³⁄₄ cup quick-cooking oats
3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
¹⁄₂ cup shredded sweetened coconut, chopped
mini chocolate chips (optional) or nuts (optional)
confectioners' sugar (optional)

directions

Set oven to 350 degrees.
Set oven rack to second-lowest position.
Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan.
In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
In another bowl, beat the butter, Crisco shortening and brown sugar until smooth and creamy (about 5 minutes).
Add in egg and vanilla; beat well until combined.
Stir in the flour mixture, oatmeal, chopped apples, coconut, nuts or chocolate chips (if using) mix well to combine.
Spread into prepared baking pan.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until bars tests done.
Cool and sift the confectioners sugar over top.
Cut into squares.

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Reviews

Deliciously Moist! I did need to alter the recipe, as I only a can of apple pie filling. No apples within 25 miles of where I live. I added two eggs and a touch more oats, only half a cup of brown sugar. Still nice and sweet and super moist!! Keeper for sure!

Auntie Num Num
These were very good and so moist. I used 1 tsp of maple extract and 1 tsp of vanilla.. This is a keeper. Thanks for posting this recipe.

gwynn
I loved the texture of it (oatmeal and coconut), and three apples are a must. I cut back on the sugar from 1 1/4 to 1 cup, but it was still a bit too sweet for me. Maybe my apples were too sweet (mixture of gala, golden delicious, and can't remember the other one) so I may try it with tarter ones. I also used unsweetened coconut. I did not have maple extract so I used 1 tsp of vanilla. Tasted just right.

LilPG
Everyone just loved these. I didn't tell them that there was coconut in them and they never even knew. This is a keeper.

looneytunesfan
These bars are as moist and chewy. For the brown sugar, I used Splenda's brown sugar blend. The oats were old-fashioned which I processed a tiny bit in the food processor and not having sweetened coconut, I used the unsweetened. I agree with you about the apples. The recipe really did need full 3 apples. I seldom peel apples when chopping and adding to batter such as this. It adds extra fiber and I have never had a problem. I did bake these in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Everyone loved them. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

PaulaG