Fluffy bars loaded with plump golden raisins, sweet apricots, and crisp, toasted pecans plus a swirl of peanut butter just for good measure. They’re a tasty bite perfect for breakfast on the go or an easy afternoon snack.
I’m always on the lookout for treats to send to my favorite little ones. Looking for a bite that would also get their Mom’s approval, a bar full of fruit and nuts seemed like it might be the right fit. Scouring through recipes, this bar delivers the texture of a brownie and packed with more flavor than you would expect!
Start with a blend of rolled oats, flour, a bit of dark brown sugar, and a generous touch of baking powder for a light lift. Add eggs, milk, and butter for richness. Then stir in golden raisins, dried apricots, toasted pecans plus a splash of pure vanilla extract, creamy peanut butter and some spice from cinnamon and nutmeg to pack them with an array of goodness.
The batter comes together quickly then they’re off to the oven to bake up golden, light, and puffed.
Pour up a glass of cold milk for the kiddos then sit back and wait for the smiles!
Granola Fruit Bars
1-½ cups rolled oats
1-½ cups flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
½ cup milk
½ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
1-½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup chopped apricots
¾ cup toasted chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 375-degrees. Combine the oats, flour, kosher salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder together, mixing on medium-low speed until well blended.
Add the eggs, milk, peanut butter, melted butter, and vanilla extract; mix in using low speed, about 1 minute.
Toss in the raisins, apricots, and pecans, stirring into the batter using low speed.
Scoop the batter into a 9” x 13” baking dish that has been sprayed with a cooking spray, spreading out the batter as evenly as possible.
Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25 minutes, or until the bars are set and the edges are lightly golden. Let the bars cool completely before cutting with a sharp knife.
Makes 24 bars.
Granola Fruit Bars
Equipment
- Electric mixer
- 9" x 13" baking pan
Ingredients
- 1-½ cups rolled oats
- 1-½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1-½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup golden raisins
- ½ cup chopped dried apricots
- ¾ cup toasted chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375-degrees.
- Combine the oats, flour, kosher salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder together, mixing on medium-low speed until well blended.
- Add the eggs, milk, peanut butter, melted butter, and vanilla extract; mix in using low speed, about 1 minute.
- Toss in the raisins, apricots, and pecans, stirring into the batter using low speed.
- Scoop the batter into a 9” x 13” baking dish that has been sprayed with a cooking spray, spreading out the batter as evenly as possible.
- Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25 minutes, or until the bars are set and the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting with a sharp knife.
