Chew-Me Oat Fruit Bars
2012-05-17- Course: Snack
- Servings : 24
- Prep Time : 20m
- Cook Time : 40m
- Ready In : 60m
I am on a mission to make some delicious (and healthy) finger food treats for Harry. The bland rusks are being ditched over the side of the pram faster than I can buy them. These are simple, healthy, and you probably have all the ingredients in the pantry.
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Ingredients
- 1½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup wholemeal/plain flour
- ¾ cup dried fruit, finely chopped (I used cranberries and raisins)
- ½ overripe banana
- ½ grated apple
- 2 tbsp wheat germ (optional)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1¼ cup milk
- 1 egg, beaten
Method
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°C. -
Step 2
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, hand mix with a fork until well combined -
Step 3
Pour into a slice tin and bake for around 45minutes or until firm to touch -
Step 4
Cool, and cut into bite sized fingers. Freeze individually -
Recipe Comments
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Average Member Rating
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28 people rated this recipe
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posted by Nyree on October 2, 2012
Thank you so much for this healthy and delicious recipe. Our 13 month old is completely obsessed with your oat bars, always calling out for more. We are passionate about healthy foods and are grateful for this recipe.
posted by Allie on October 2, 2012
Thanks for the comment Nyree. You’re so welcome, it’s so exciting to hear how much your toddler loves them. Allie x
posted by Three Counties Mum on October 24, 2012
I made these yesterday and my son loved them – thanks! I have posted the recipe on my Blog with a link back to you (and a recommendation that people check out your site!) – hope that’s OK?
posted by Jess on November 26, 2012
Awesome! Did a few things different so they were gluten free: quinoa flakes instead of oats and gluten free flour. Used dates for fruit. We both love em! I am calling them breakfast bars, because I couldn’t resist one this morning!
posted by Allie on November 26, 2012
Great to know Jess, thank you so much for your comment, this will really help others wondering about a gluten free option. Ax
posted by kate on March 13, 2013
I made these today for the first time and my daughter has been eating them all day! So easy to make and delicious. Thank you!!
posted by Allie on March 13, 2013
So lovely to hear that Kate, thank you so much for your comment. Ax
posted by Julia on March 22, 2013
Okay, maybe a silly question… but what is a slice tin? 🙂
posted by Allie on March 22, 2013
Hi Julia, not silly at all, they do vary but usually it is around 18×28 cm or a nice rectangular tin. A simple square tin would be fine for this recipe too – it’s very flexible. Hope that helps, Ax
posted by Kara on November 12, 2013
I think my slice tin must have been massive, my batch came out about half of this height. Oops. They taste good though!
posted by Allie on November 12, 2013
As long as they tasted nice 🙂 thats the main thing! Ax
posted by Natasha on August 22, 2013
Made these this afternoon and they are great!! My one year old loves them, my husband keeps hovering near the container snacking on them too! We are hooked! Thanks
posted by Allie on August 23, 2013
Hi Natasha, thats fab. It feels good when the family can’t get enough of something healthy, doesn’t it? 😉 Ax
posted by Monique on September 16, 2013
Hi
I made these today for my 4 yo and 1 yo. Mine turned out a bit soft in the middle but definitely cooked on the outside. Is that how they should be? I added a bit of coconut to mine too. Thanks.
posted by Allie on September 17, 2013
Hi Monique, the oat bars are usually cooked evenly through so shouldn’t be too soft in the middle. As all ovens differ you may like to try cooking on a lower heat for longer next time? I hope that helps, Ax
posted by Stacey on October 29, 2013
Thank you so much for this recipe! It’s so easy and so yummy! My 11 month old takes these to nana’s each morning for breakfast when I drop her off on the way to work. Love being able to do a big batch and keep in the freezer to take one out each evening ( she has even eaten them frozen…. Great for the sore gums!) I used apricots and prunes for my dried fruit.
posted by Allie on October 29, 2013
Oh you’re welcome Stacey. I love the dried fruit flavour combination you chose, I will have to give that a go myself. Ax
posted by Carissa on January 28, 2014
Thank you …. My 2 and a half year old daughter loves these, especially since she helped cook them (poured into bowl and mixed them). She loved being involved plus it is healthy!! What is best way to store these? Fridge/air tight container in pantry? Are they suitable to freeze? Love your site
posted by Allie on January 28, 2014
Hi Carissa. So glad to hear your daughter is having fun cooking healthy food with you and enjoying eating it too! These are best stored in the fridge and freeze really well – you can just slice them up and wrap in freezer plastic then freeze separately for easy grab-and-go snacks. Ax
posted by Kiki on February 4, 2014
Both the 1yr old, and 6yr old loved them immediately. A new lunch box and ‘grazing’ staple for us. Thank you!
posted by Allie on February 4, 2014
Wonderful, Kiki. Thanks for sharing your success. Ax
posted by Kathryn on March 1, 2014
Hi – a lot of your recipes call for rolled oats. If I’m using quick oats (as that’s what’s in the cupboard) do I need to alter the recipe?
Thanks
posted by Allie on March 28, 2014
Depending on the recipe the quick oats might not hold the mixture as well but should still work out OK 🙂 Ax
posted by Kathryn on March 5, 2014
My tin was too big too so I’m going to increase the quantity next time because this was delish!! This isn’t toddler food – this is family food!!
posted by Ali hoo on April 19, 2014
My baby wasn’t overly impressed….but my 4 year old ate some of it.
I was hoping for something more crumbly. But ours came out a bit like latex?!?
Taste was OK…but would ate a lot more spice next time and probably cook less time and on lower heat.
Thanks for recipe. Definitely a good base for adding lots of exciting combinations.
posted by shannon on May 30, 2014
Hello and HELP! I followed the recipe exactly but when it came time to cook them, I put them in an 8×8 baking dish….cooked at 350’F for an hour, and they still came out super soft in the middle, almost not cooked enough. I let them cool down and sliced them up hoping that they would harden while sitting, nope! So what can I do to help my situation? I tried cooking one in the microwave and that didn’t help! These are my first healthy cookies and no one will eat them!!! AHHHHHH 🙁 I take full responsibility!
posted by Jess on July 4, 2014
My 13 month old has an egg allergy 🙁 Could I use egg subsitute/no egg replacement product in these? What else would you suggest for binding instead of an egg as these sound delicious.
posted by Jess on July 4, 2014
Hi Jessie, I haven’t tried using egg replacer in these but it should work out fine. For other ideas we recently posted this on egg alternatives on our facebook page. It will hopefully help : Jx
EGG REPLACER: Whether your child is allergic or you just ran out, sometimes you just need to replace the egg. Here are a few we have used; have you tried them? Do you know of any more?
Bananas (1 ripe banana=1 egg)
Apple puree (1 tbsp=1 egg)
Egg replacer powder
Mix 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons hot water and leave to soak for a few minutes.
Mix 1 tablespoon chia seeds with 3 tablespoons hot water and leave to soak for a few minutes.
posted by Jess on July 4, 2014
Thank you! Will try this out on the weekend 🙂
posted by Claire on August 12, 2014
I often use the chia seeds as an egg replacement option, such as tonight when making chicken meatballs, and it does a great job.
posted by Susan on August 3, 2014
Another great recipe, that you! A hit with my 20 month old, husband and a few visitors. My toddler helped me bake them and we had a ball. So easy to make and I love having healthy home made snacks on hand.
posted by Cherie on August 12, 2014
Not sure if my last message worked, I am wondering if it’s possible to substitute expressed breast milk instead of using cows milk? Also I assume these would be fine to freeze?
Thanks
posted by Allie on August 19, 2014
These are great to freeze. I haven’t tried breastmilk but I don’t see why not? Let us know how you go! Ax
posted by Kristina on August 13, 2014
My 7mo love these 🙂 she throws her risks overboard too so these are a great snack for her. How long do they last do you think?
posted by Rhiannon on August 13, 2014
I cooked these today for my 11 month old, love the idea of using them instead of rusks as we also have the issue of rusks being thrown on the floor after 2 mins! Mine have come out quite sticky – does this mean they are under-cooked? Thanks 🙂
posted by Gabrielle on August 19, 2014
Hi, just wondering if I could use coconut flour instead
Of regular flour? If so what quantity do you recommend?
I know you should use a lot less as coconut flour is very
absorbent. Thank you…Love your recipes!
posted by Allie on August 19, 2014
Hi Gabrielle, I haven’t tried so I am not sure. If you do let us know how you go 🙂 Ax
posted by Vicki on September 20, 2014
I haven’t made this recipe – but I have made the fruit / oat / chia mini chews a lot and last time did try coconut flour. I think I used about 1/3C instead of 1/2C regular flour, and then let it sit for a few minutes, then sprinkled a bit more in because the mix was still a bit wet. Turned out great though!
posted by Joanna on October 22, 2014
I’ve made this recipe a few times now and love it. I use Wholemeal flour and it’s a great healthy snack that my little boy loves. However do add less milk and I grate a whole small apple and add sultanas and it still works beautifully. Thanks for your recipe.
posted by Allie on October 23, 2014
Thanks for sharing 🙂
posted by hayley on November 20, 2014
My 18 month is such a fussy Eater, I was actually surprised he LOVED these 🙂
posted by kylie on January 9, 2015
hi what can I use instead of the banana? could I use fruit puree?
posted by Allie on January 24, 2015
Fruit puree should be fine, the banana helps to bind so you could also use some chia seeds to help ‘glue’ the mixture.
posted by Kylie on January 10, 2015
Hi can you use fruit puree instead of the banana and apple
posted by Allie on January 24, 2015
Yes this should be fine, Kylie.
posted by Niomi on January 11, 2015
Firstly thank you great website and receipes! Just wondering would these fruit bars be appropriate for my 8 month old? And regarding freezing can I just pull out freezer as I need and defrost in fridge/microwave?
posted by Allie on January 24, 2015
Hi Niomi, every bub is different so I can’t really answer this one for you. My baby eats them and she is 8 months. You might like the slightly softer chia squares which are a similar recipe? And yes, you can defrost as needed. Ax
posted by Cindy on February 18, 2015
Great recipe, devoured by my 14 month old and 4 year old 🙂 I used a mix of apricots and sultanas, it cooked through fine in a square tin. I had a whole brown banana to use up so used about a tablespoon more of flour and adjusted the milk to one cup and it was perfect. Fantastic that it’s versatile!
posted by Nanook on March 28, 2015
A big thank you for this recipe. My über fussy toddler loves them and so do I! I think it’s the reason behind his current obsession with raisins!!
posted by Marina on April 28, 2015
Thanks for a great healthy recipe! The whole family loved it!
Warning for other moms – don’t use tin foil!
My slice tin was too big, so i decided creating a smaller one inside it using tin foil (not sure what exactly i was thinking… :)). Big mistake! It was such a pain removing the stuck bars from the foil…
Do you usually grease the tin before putting in the mixture?
posted by Amanda on May 20, 2015
I’m always on the lookout for new finger food ideas for my 9 month old. Made these with an egg replacer as Bubs is allergic. Used apricots and sultanas. So yummy and she loves them!
posted by Jess on May 21, 2015
Thank you Amanda for the lovely feedback. My little Hamish (9mo also) loves them too. Glad to hear they worked out well with egg replacer. Enjoy, Jx
posted by Mel on June 24, 2015
Just made this and felt that the mixture was quite wet, so I had to put more oats in..not sure what I did wrong? Am I able to freeze these?
posted by Allie on June 24, 2015
Hi Mel, sorry to hear. You can leave these in the oven on low a little longer to ‘dry’ out a bit. Yes they are great frozen. Ax
posted by Bananagirl on July 26, 2015
I’m 16mo. Mummy used your recipe as a basis for some snacks for me. She didn’t bother to measure anything out but they turned out great! She zapped the oats so they would be too big and chewy for me and added some zapped dates. The dates has some bit chunks in them but once the bars were cooked the date chunks were deliciously soft. My friends like the bars too. Thank you for the recipe!
posted by Allie on July 26, 2015
So good to hear that you liked them little one 🙂
posted by Marilou on December 8, 2015
Hi,
I’m just wondering if its Self Raising or plain wholemeal flour?
Thanks.
posted by Kanika Das on March 13, 2016
Can I keep this bar in room temp and for how many days
posted by Loz on April 7, 2016
Thank you so much for the recipe! I love your book too. We cut these up into finger-sized strips and wrap individually before popping in the freezer bag and freezing. Dried figs are lovely (mind the seeds…my 1 y.o. Is fine). We just pop one in the bag before heading out. My son enjoys sucking on them when they are still frozen too. Enjoy!
posted by Carly on April 11, 2016
Hi,
I baked these today and they are crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle. What have I done wrong?? My 13 month old loved them though. Should I pop them back in the oven individually before serving to crunch them up?
Carly
posted by mel on June 8, 2016
hi there, how long will this keep for in the fridge?
thanks