These little bars make the most of autumn’s apple bounty, and are a handy low sugar, oat-fuelled snack to have on hand. They contain few ingredients, which are also inexpensive and highly adaptable. Try experimenting with different dried fruit (apricots, chopped dates, figs etc), and switch up the spices to suit your taste. Making your own applesauce is worth it- it can be free (pick your own anyone?!) and won’t contain any added refined sugars unlike the shop-bought varieties. I make a big batch and then freeze- it can be used in so many recipes. See tip below.
Ingredients:
3 cups oats
2.5 cups applesauce*
1/4 cup fat (vegan butter, butter, coconut oil)
1/2 cup sultanas
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (or pumpkin seeds, chopped nuts etc.)
spices (optional): 1tsp mixed spice, 1tsp cinnamon
Method:
- preheat oven to 180c
- melt the fat, then add to a bowl with the remaining ingredients and stir until fully combined
- transfer to a lined baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown
- leave to cool for 10 minutes, before slicing and then leaving to fully cool and set
*To make the applesauce:
-wash, core and dice red apples (leave the skin on). Add to a pot and boil with the lid on for 20-25 minutes until mushy, then for a further 10 minutes to reduce a little. Once cool, blend until smooth.
