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Oatmeal Fruit Bar Cookies: Use the Fruit and Nuts Already in Your Pantry

Healthy oatmeal cookies? Yep. Oatmeal Fruit Bar Cookies are a cross between a bar cookie and a granola bar. They are super-easy to make! 

In fact, you may find that these are so simple and so good that you don’t buy granola bars anymore, but bake these instead.

And they’re healthier than your average cookie, too, since most of the sweetness is from honey and dried fruit (with just a bit of brown sugar thrown into the mix). They’re great for breakfast, too!

Don’t buy dried fruit for this recipe unless you want to. Instead, take a look in your pantry and use any of the dried fruits and nuts that are already there, like raisins, dried cranberries, apricots, dates, plums, apples, or others.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 18-20 minutes

Makes about 24 bars 

Ingredients

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter or margarine, softened
½ cup honey
1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups oatmeal (either rolled oats or quick oats)
1 ½ cups chopped dried fruit, any combination (raisins, dried cranberries, apricots, dates, plums, apples, or others)
½ cup chopped nuts

Directions for Oatmeal Fruit Bar Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Use aluminum foil or parchment paper to line a 13 x 9 baking pan. Coat the liner with vegetable spray. Set the pan aside.
2. In a medium-size mixing bowl using an electric mixer on low speed, cream together butter, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, and oats. Stir until well-mixed. The mixture will form large, soft clumps. (See more about using oatmeal in cookies.) Stir in dried fruit and nuts. 
3. Press mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 18-20 until edges begin to turn brown. Remove the pan from oven. Use a small loaf pan or other smooth-bottomed dish to press the bars flat.
4. Allow the cookies to cool completely. Use a sharp kitchen knife or a pizza cutter to cut into 6 rows of 4 or any size you wish.
5. Store the bar cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze them to serve later.

See more recipe ideas on our Oatmeal Cookies Pinterest board.

More Easy Bar Cookie Recipes with Oatmeal

Cherry Oatmeal Bar Cookies Recipe: just 4 ingredients!

Cranberry Caramel Date Bars: a luscious, rich (and easy) bar cookie ...

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Caramel Squares: just 7 ingredients ...

Pineapple Coconut Bars: a favorite from Bake-Off #35 ...

Raisin Bar Cookies: easy, filled bar cookie ...

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