The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and of course, delicious treats. This is the perfect time to gather with family and friends and indulge in some festive desserts. One recipe that never fails to impress is the holiday fruit bars. These bars are a delicious combination of tart cranberries, sweet apricots, and crunchy almonds, making them the perfect holiday treat. Not only are they easy to make, but they also make for a perfect homemade gift for your loved ones. So, let's dive into the recipe and satisfy our sweet tooth this holiday season.
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1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients – rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients – melted butter, honey, and vanilla extract.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Press half of the mixture into the prepared baking dish, making sure it is evenly spread.
6. In a small bowl, mix together the dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, and chopped almonds.
7. Spread the fruit filling evenly over the pressed mixture in the baking dish.
8. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the fruit filling, pressing lightly.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
10. Let it cool for 10 minutes, then use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the dish.
11. Cut the bars into desired sizes and enjoy your delicious holiday fruit bars!
You can make these bars even more festive by adding some holiday spices like nutmeg, ginger, or cloves to the dry ingredients. You can also swap the dried cranberries and apricots for dried cherries and raisins for a different flavor profile. And for a touch of indulgence, drizzle some melted white chocolate over the top of the bars before serving.
These holiday fruit bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tart, making them a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. They are also a great way to use up any leftover dried fruits you may have in your pantry. So, gather your loved ones and enjoy a batch of these delicious bars this holiday season.
Ingredients
