🍇🍏 Introducing the delightful Berry Apple Bars recipe, a delectable treat perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a cozy family gathering or a festive celebration! These bars, bursting with the juicy sweetness of berries and apples, combined with the wholesome goodness of oats and nuts, are sure to become a favorite among both kids and adults alike. With a preparation time of just 15 minutes and a total cooking time of 45 minutes, you’ll have these scrumptious bars ready to enjoy in no time! Let’s dive into the recipe:
Berry Apple Bars
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 16 bars
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 cup margarine, softened
- 3 1/4 cups apples, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for tossing with apples)
- 1 cup berry jam (your favorite flavor)
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to preheat, ensuring it’s ready when you need it.
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Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and ground cinnamon. Stir until the ingredients are well incorporated.
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Incorporate Margarine: Add the softened margarine to the dry ingredient mixture. Mix until the margarine is evenly distributed, creating a crumbly texture. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of this mixture to use as the topping later.
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Press Crust: Take the remaining crumb mixture and press it firmly into a greased 13×9-inch baking pan, ensuring an even layer along the bottom. This will form the deliciously crispy crust for your bars.
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Bake First Layer: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the crust for 15 minutes, or until it’s just beginning to set and turn golden brown.
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Prepare Fruit Filling: While the crust is baking, toss the chopped apples with 1 tablespoon of flour in a bowl. This will help thicken the filling. Then, stir in the berry jam until the apples are evenly coated.
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Spread Fruit Mixture: Once the crust is baked, remove it from the oven and spread the prepared fruit mixture over the hot crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.
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Add Nutty Topping: Combine the chopped walnuts with the reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle this nutty topping evenly over the fruit layer, covering it completely.
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Bake Until Golden: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and the fruit filling is bubbling deliciously.
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Cool and Serve: Once baked to perfection, remove the pan from the oven and allow the Berry Apple Bars to cool completely in the pan. This will allow the bars to set properly. Once cooled, cut into squares or bars and serve to delighted guests or family members.
These Berry Apple Bars are a delightful combination of sweet and tart flavors, with a satisfying crunch from the oats and walnuts. They’re perfect for indulging in as a dessert or even as a sweet snack any time of day. Enjoy the wholesome goodness of fruit and oats in every bite! 🍓🍎
