Cherry Energy Bars Recipe

• Serves: 12
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 c. quick cooking oatmeal
• ¾ c. flour
• ¼ c. wheat germ
• 1 t. cinnamon
• ¼ t. salt
• ½ c. honey
• 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs (beaten)
• ¾ c. dried cherries (chopped)
• ½ c. nuts (chopped)
• ¼ c. fruit only apricot preserves

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray for baking. Set aside.

Mix together the oatmeal, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, honey and eggs. Mix well, then add cherries and nuts.

Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Pour batter into the baking dish. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean from the center of the bars.

Near the end of the baking time, heat preserves in a heavy saucepan, until bubbly. Spread onto bars as soon as they come out of the oven. Cut when cool, into small bars about 2 inches by 4 inches. Makes 12 bars. Cover and refrigerate any leftover bars.