These bars remind me of Kellogg’s Nutrigrain bars. The texture and taste are very similar though the ingredients are different. No Red #40 , Blue #1, artificial flavor, or carrageenan. What I love about this recipe:
1. A few simple ingredients.
2. Fast and easy to put together.
3. The flavor is easy to change.
4. I could use Greek yogurt instead of butter. This switch yields a chewier crust instead of a crispier crust that the fat in butter gives. If you want a chewy, nutrigrain bar-like texture, then you can use Greek yogurt. If you want a crispier crust, use the butter.
Oatmeal Jam Bars (printable)
about 12-16 bars
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup rolled oats/old-fashioned oats
1 tsp. lemon zest and/or 1/2 tsp. lemon extract (optional)
1/2 cup (8 Tb.)butter softened or melted OR 3 Tb. melted butter and 5 Tb. Greek yogurt
3/4 cup your favorite jam (seedless is good)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a piece of non-stick foil or sprayed foil in a 8″x8″, 9″x9″, or 7″x11″ pan with the foil hanging off the sides.
2. In a great big bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour, baking soda, oats and optional lemon flavor. The lemon is great with blueberry, strawberry, or raspberry jams. Add the butter and stir until the dough forms crumbs.
3. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the pan. Use the flat end of the measuring cup to press the mixture.
4. Pour the jam onto the crust. Sometimes the jam needs warmed up a little in the microwave. Spread on top of the crust with an offset spatula.
5. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture onto the jam. You don’t need to use all of it. I had a little left.
6. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool in the pan. Remove using the sling created by the foil and cut into bars. After 1 day at room temperature, I store mine in the fridge since they contain fruit.
