Healthy Breakfast Bars -- My Way!

Kerfuffle-Upon-Wincle's Note:

A moist (adult) breakfast bar chocked full of fruit, chocolate chips, and nuts -- Inspired by Everything Breakfast Bar Vii -- If you don't like raisins, feel free to try them with dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, chopped dates and/or coconut instead! Makes two 13 x 9 Pyrex pans baked at 325F degrees for 30 minutes -- makes 50 squares total . Wrapped individually, bars stay fresh for two weeks -- or freeze them for a Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) adventure! NOTE: For more kid-friendly bars, use apple juice instead of Scotch Whiskey! :)

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 50

Yield: 2.0 13 x 9 ...

Dry Ingredients

• 8 cups old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins , do not drain (soaked till plump at least 30 minutes ~ SEE Scotch whiskey, or juice in WET INGREDIENTS below!)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 ½ cups finely chopped walnuts (TOASTED dry in an iron skillet)

Wet Ingredients

• 4 eggs , beaten
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (not pie filling)
• 2 cups milk
• 3 cups brown sugar (NOT hard-packed)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• ½ cup scotch whiskey (substitute bourbon, or apple juice ~ FOR SOAKING RAISINS, ABOVE)

Directions:

1. Grease two 9" x 13" Pyrex pans.
2. Preheat oven to 325°F.
3. Combine scotch whiskey (or apple juice), vanilla, and RAISINS, in a microwave bowl ~ microwave for 1 minute and soak till plump (about 30 minutes) ~ do not drain!
4. Combine dry ingredients (except raisins) in large bowl, stirring well.
5. Combine remaining wet ingredients in a large bowl, or an 8 cup measure. Whisk thoroughly for a uniform, lump-free mixture.
6. Pour wet ingredients, including undrained raisins, into dry ingredients. Stir well.
7. Pour into greased pans and bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. (Bake pans one at a time, or together side by side on the same rack ~ rotate pans after 20 minutes.).
8. Cool completely and cut each pan into 25 squares ~ I cut mine with a pizza cutter! Wrap individually in plastic wrap ~ bars stay fresh and moist for two weeks! Freeze after wrapping individually, if desired, for a once a month cooking (OAMC) breakfast adventure!
9. NOTE: Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, dates, and/or coconut (or a combination) can be substituted for the raisins to make a different bar.

Reviews

[FloridaNative]

KuW, these are very good. DD helped me put the ingredients together (we only made 1/2 recipe) and we soaked our cranberries in apple juice :) The bars came out super-moist and very flavorful. DH loves them too! Thanks for the great idea ~ will definitely use this recipe for OAMC! Made for MY 3 CHEFS, November 2009!