Granola Bars with Dried Fruit

These truly are delicious!  They have a nice buttery taste to them with a hint of a salty taste then all the sudden you get this sweetness from the fruit!  Great for a snack, breakfast or even dessert. 

I added dried apricots, dried blueberries and craisins but you can really add any kind of fruit you would like!  I just happen to have all three of those at home.  I have made this before with just apricots but I do love the three together!  I have also made them thinner using a larger pan but I think I really do like them thicker. If you are making a single recipe use a  9 " pan but if you are doubling it use a 9X13 " pan.

I do like to double the recipe when I make these because it's a great thing to grab and take with you for now or a snack later.

Store in an airtight container.

Melt butter in a saucepan or in the microwave. In a bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla and dried fruit.  Pour melted butter over mixture and stir well till combined.

Pour into a butter pan ( I doubled recipe so I  used a 9X13 pan) and press down. Bake for about 35 minutes.

These truly are delicious

Look at all that goodness

Oatmeal Bars with Dried Fruit

Ingredients:

·    12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut up

·    2 teaspoons soft butter for greasing pan

·    ½ cup chopped dried apricots

·    1/2 dried blueberries (optional)

·    ½ cup dried craisins (optional)

·    1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

·    1 cup all-purpose flour

·    1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

·    1/4 teaspoon salt

·    1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Put the 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter in a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir with the wooden spoon until the butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Using a pot holder, remove the saucepan from the heat and set it aside to cool.

Preheat an oven to 350°F.  Lightly grease the bottom of pan with soften butter use a  9-inch square baking pan.

In a bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon until well blended and no lumps of sugar remain.

Add apricots, blueberries and craisins, melted butter and vanilla to the bowl. Stir until well blended. The dough will be moist and crumbly. Dump the dough into the prepared baking pan. Press the dough into the pan with your fingers.

Bake until the top is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove the pan from the oven, set on a wire cooling rack and let cool completely.