Honey Oat Prune Bars

Submitted by littleturtle

"Something a little different and very good."

 

• Ready In: 55mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 48

ingredients

• Filling

• 6 ounces pitted prunes (about 1 cup)
• 2⁄3 cup orange juice
• 1⁄2 cup nuts, chopped

• Dough

• 3⁄4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine, softened
• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons orange zest
• 2 eggs
• 1 1⁄2 cups oats
• 1⁄4 cup wheat germ
• 2 1⁄4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a blender, blend prunes and orange juice until almost smooth, turning on and off and scraping sides as needed.
3. Stir in nuts.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture boils and becomes very thick (5-8 minutes); set aside.
5. In large bowl, cream butter, sugar, honey, and orange zest.
6. Beat in eggs.
7. Mix in flour, oats, wheat germ, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt, blending for 2 minutes.
8. Evenly spread half of the flour mixture on bottom of greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
9. Cover evenly with prune mixture to within 1/2-inch from edges.
10. Crumble the remaining flour mixture over top to cover prune mixture.
11. Pat down gently.
12. Bake until browned and springy to the touch (30-35 minutes).
13. Cool on wire rack; cut into 1x2-inch bars.