FRUIT-FILLED OATMEAL BARS

Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 recipe Apple-Cranberry Filling, Apricot Filling, Raisin Filling, or Easy Filling
1 cup snipped dried apricots
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups bottled mincemeat or one 20-ounce can cherry or peach pie filling
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 1/4 cups golden raisins
1 cup chunky applesauce
2/3 cup dried cranberries or blueberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash ground cloves

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture.
Press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2-inch or 11x7x1-1/2-inch baking pan. Spread with desired filling. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.
In a medium saucepan combine apricots and the water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine sugar and flour; stir into apricot mixture. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until thickened and bubbly.
Use bottled mincemeat or pie filling.
In a medium saucepan combine the water, sugar, and cornstarch. Add raisins. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
In a medium bowl combine applesauce, cranberries, cinnamon, and cloves.