Apple Cinnamon Oat Squares

I got super ambitious about my ability to be organic and natural when I saw this recipe...and I felt super earthy buying ground flax seeds and steel cut oats at Sprouts. However, it didn't hit home until I was putting this recipe together, that the only form of sweetness included is the shredded apple. I'm sure it makes them excellent for you, but I am self-aware enough to know that I just cannot do low sugar when it comes to baking. I went ahead and followed the recipe to a T (shocking,  I know), and drizzled honey over the bars when i served them. I may try this again, and I would possibly add about 1/2 a cup of honey to make them sweeter, or maybe a crumble on top. Either way, I'm not giving up on the Whole Foods website as a source for recipes...I'll just have to do a reality check before I decide to make them!

 

Ingredients

2 cups unsweetened almondmilk*
1 1/2 cups steel cut oats*
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup ground flax seeds (not whole flax seeds)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 (about 1 pound) Pink Lady apples, cored and grated

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Transfer to a foil- or parchment paper-lined 9-inch square baking pan, press down and smooth out the top and bake until firm and golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan; cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 square): 140 calories (50 from fat), 6g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 25mg sodium, 20g total carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 7g sugar), 3g protein