Lower-Fat Peanut Chocolate Chip Trail Bars

LUv 2 BaKE's Note:

These are moist brownie like bars with just the right amount of chocolate and peanuts. This recipe was originally high fat, but I successfully substitute applesauce for most of the margarine. Excellent served warm, although still very good cool.

• Total Time: 42 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 27 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 21

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups Raisin Bran cereal (Bran Flakes will also work)
• ¾ cup quick oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup margarine
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2⁄3; cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar , packed
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup coconut (optional)
• ¾ cup chocolate chips
• ¾ cup roasted unsalted peanuts , chopped

Directions:

1. Stir together flour, cereal, oats, baking soda, and baking powder.
2. In a separate bowl, beat margarine, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients; Stir together.
4. Add in all coconut, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, and about 2/3 cup peanuts.
5. Spread batter evenly into a greased 9 x 13" baking pan.
6. Sprinkle the top of the batter evenly with remaining chocolate chips and peanuts; lightly press them down on batter.
7. Bake at 350°F for 23-27 minutes, until top is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan on a rack.
9. When cool, cut into 21 bars.

Reviews

[Megan from Chicago]

I skipped the 2/3 cup sugar just to reduce the calories. I did add the brown sugar. I can see why most people would probably prefer to add in all of the sugar but the bars were still good without the 2/3 cup sugar. I am sure that they are out of this world with the sugar but still good without.

[Purdy Good Cook]

This bar was good. Mine turned out a little bit dry, but the flavor was still good. I also did not use coconut, so I will next time! This bar is also more like a cake.

[shimmerchk]

These tasted pretty good but unfortunately they came out really dry. I baked these for exactly 23 minutes but should have watched it more closely as another reviewer suggested. I also used 1/2 sugar and 1/2 splenda but otherwise did not stray from the recipe ingredients. The bar looks goey and rich in the picture but mine ended up much drier looking and the chocolate chips and nut topping did not adhere to the top and fell off when we tried to bite into one. Nevertheless I will be making these again but will watch them more closely next time, and it may be the type of bar that is even better if you take it out when it is slightly underdone. This really does taste good and I would recommend anyone to try it, especially since it has such wholesome ingredients.