Cranberry Date Breakfast Bars

Store-bought cereal bars often have unhealthy additives, so better to make your own healthy homemade cereal bars. These whole wheat and oatmeal breakfast bars are flavored with cranberries and dates. If you like packaged cereal bars, try making these homemade breakfast bars with oatmeal. They're similar to granola bars. Recipe courtesy of The Wheat Foods Council.

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces dried cranberries
• 8 ounces chopped dates
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup powdered sugar (optional)
• 1 - 2 tbsp orange juice (optional)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla (optional)

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan over low heat, simmer cranberries, dates and water, stirring constantly. Simmer until all water is absorbed; remove from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter or margarine until well blended.

Spread half of the flour mixture into ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan; bake in oven for 8 minutes.

Remove from oven and spoon cranberry/date mixture over crust; sprinkle with remaining flour mixture, pat gently.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned; cool.

Optional: Combine powdered sugar, vanilla and orange juice to make a frosting. Drizzle over cereal bars.

Servings: Provides 3 dozen bars

Calories/Serving: 155 calories/bar

Nutrition: Nutrition analysis: One bar provides approximately: 155 calories, 2 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat (2 g saturated), 7 mg cholesterol, 10 mcg folate, 1 mg iron and 108 mg sodium.

Like cranberries? Check out more healthy holiday cranberry recipes.

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