I found this yummy treat in Wal-Mart. Woo Hoo more Gluten Free choices for those on-the-go moments, or when someone else needs to supply my children with a snack. AND this is one I actually approve of versus the cookies and gummies some like to provide.. When they see Gluten Free, it makes them happy and think, "Yay, I can buy this!" I appreciate the effort, but I sure get disturbed by the food colorings and sugars, and God forbid, HFCS! (high fructose corn syrup =P) This box even mentions that it is CORN FREE!! Yay, double bonus! (This just means I don't have to worry about GMO Corn and I can share with my friend who has a son with a corn allergy) Although at $4 a box (5 to a box), even though they are worth it, it's a little hard to keep them in stock with all the mouths I have to feed here. So I came up with an alternative. They are not portable like these, but very tasty none-the-less. I think I will just have to keep a box handy in hiding so that when we need something to take on an adventure, I have it ready.
So instead of Cranberry Almond, we have Berry Almond Oatmeal Bars. I like the texture. They are chewy, and have that bit of sweetness from the jam. I use Smuckers Simply Fruit because it doesn't have too many weird ingredients and no extra sugars. I did add some of that Morena Unrefined Non-GMO Sugar, but you could use coconut sugar. I usually have a flour mix made up so you could use your own GF Flour Mix. This last one I had made up had a 1/4 cup Coconut Flour and 1/4 C Cornstarch added to it. I usually have an even amount of flours and starch A little more white rice than brown, and a little more potato than tapioca...I would like to use arrowroot, but I can't find it in bulk in my local store....One day I will get measurements and share. So in the mean time, you could try winging it like me = )
Preheat Oven to 350 and grease an 8 x 8 pan or use parchment paper - that's what I use. Dry Ingredients: 1 Cup Gluten Free Oats 1 Cup Gluten Free All Purpose Flour 1/4 Cup Slivered Almonds (optional) 1/4 Cup Shredded Coconut (optional) 1/4 Cup Sugar (or Coconut Sugar) 1/4 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Baking Soda 1/8 tsp Cream of Tartar (I don't know if this made a dif or not.) 1/4 tsp Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum Toss together. Wet Ingredients: Mix the FIRST FOUR ingredients together in a small bowl 1 Egg 1/4 Cup Applesauce 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup 1/4 tsp Almond Extract 3/4 Cup of your favorite jam! I used a mix of Red Raspberry, Apricot, and Blackberry. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together by hand; it should be kinda cookie dough like, but not so thick. (pic 1).. (Reserve a 1/2 cup of this mix to use as the topping.) You should be able to spread it evenly in the pan with a spatula. Do not make your edges too thick or you will end up with all your jam in the center after baking (pic 2). After spreading the dough, spread the jam on top. (pic 3). I actually used a fork to pierce through the jam and dough to work the jam in a little bit.....not sure it made a difference. For the last step, use your reserved dough and use your fingers to scatter it about on top. Do not press it in. I baked for 20 minutes. I would check it at 15. You can get a good idea of it being finished cooking when the jam has oozed over the sides a bit and the top has become a little crusty, but not crumbly hard....Remember, this is a chewy treat! Enjoy = ) |