Kinda like but better Starbucks Oat Bars

These bars are my version of the kinds that are sold at Starbucks. They are not very sweet, and although I could have made them sweeter, that would have defeated the purpose of them being "healthy". If more sweetness is desired, one could spread them with a favorite jelly or jam. However, they are packed full of oats and oat bran and that was the desired objective.

1 cups Oat Bran

2 ½ cup Old Fashioned Oats

2 tablespoons Arrowroot Flour

½ cup butter

½ cup Coconut Sugar

¼ cup Maple Syrup

1/3 cup half and half

1 egg

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1.      Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

2.      Mix together the arrowroot flour, salt, oats and oat bran

3.      Melt the butter, sugar, half and half, and syrup together until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture thickens

4.      Whisk the egg slightly.

5.      Add the whisked egg, and mix the wet and dry ingredients together to for a “dough”.

6.      Press firmly into the pan lined with parchment paper, letting the paper overhang around the edges. Smooth the top with a spatula as though you are spreading frosting on a cake.

7.      Bake 20 minutes until the edges are browned and the mixture has taken on a golden color.

8.      Cool then cut into bars.

Oatmeal Flax Breakfast Squares

I'm going through a phase of developing a series of Oatmeal Breakfast Squares that I can "grab and go" for a quick breakfast or a nice treat for a coffee break. This recipe is full of oatmeal, oat bran and flax. They are very thick (a lot of batter for the 8x8 pan), very dense, and very filling. I wont say they are 100% healthy but might be somewhere in the middle. They certainly are 100% delicious!

    1 cup melted butter

    1/2 cup maple syrup

    1 tablespoon molasses

    1/4 cup brown sugar

    2 eggs

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

     ½ cup oat bran

    1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

    ½ cup flax meal

    ½ cup Greek Style yogurt

    ½ cup half and half (or buttermilk)

    1 teaspoon vinegar (omit if using Buttermilk)

    2 tablespoons Arrowroot Flour

    1/2 large, tart apple, peeled, cored and finely grated

    In a large saucepan, melt together the butter, molasses, sugar, and maple syrup. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Mix in the grated apple and set aside to cool. Whisk eggs, yogurt, half and half (or buttermilk), and vanilla, mixing well. Add the cooled butter mixture the oats, oat bran, flax meal, cinnamon, flours, baking soda, salt and flour and mix until well combined.

  Spread mixture in a parchment lined 8x8 inch baking dish. Make sure the parchment paper overhangs on all sides. Bake in a 350° oven for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and a tester inserted comes out clean. The finished product should be firm to touch. Cut into 9 squares when cool.

Maple Syrup Oatmeal Breakfast Squares

These are very dense, filling breakfast squares. One of these is an alternative to a bowl of morning oatmeal, and certainly a lot tastier! They are full of oats, oat bran and low glycemic whole wheat flour. For interest, peanut butter morsels, cranberries or walnuts may be added, depending on your taste. The recipe yields only 6 squares but they freeze well if wrapped in foil and stored in a freezer bag. I warm them up by thawing in the fridge overnight, and reheating in a microwave. To reheat, cover with a damp paper towel and warm up in the microwave at about 30% power for 5 minutes. One square keeps you full until lunchtime, and are a lot better than the ones you buy in the store.

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

    ½ cup oat bran

    ½ cup whole wheat flour

    2 tablespoons Arrowroot flour (cornstarch may be substituted in a pinch. I prefer not to do so)

    1 1/4 cup milk or half and half (if diet conscious, use skimmed milk or non-dairy substitute)

    1/2 cup dark brown sugar

    1/4 cup pure maple syrup+ 1 Tablespoon Molasses

    1/4 cup vegetable oil

    1 egg

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    ½ teaspoon allspice

    ½ teaspoon nutmeg

    1 teaspoon vanilla

    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

    1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped walnuts OR Cranberries OR peanut butter morsels (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Let the paper overhang around the pan edges.

In a medium bowl, mix oats, oat bran, flour, arrowroot flour, (morsels, or cranberries or walnuts, if using), baking powder, salt and spices together.

In a medium saucepan, combine half and half, molasses, maple syrup, vanilla, and brown sugar. Heat over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Set aside to cool

In a large bowl, mix oil, egg, and whisk to combine. Add half and half mixture.

Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan and let sit for about 10 minutes so that the oats can soak up some of the liquid.

Bake in oven until edges are golden brown and center has set, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before slicing into squares and serving. I got 6 breakfast size portions. Enjoy!