Coconut Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars

Our little guy and I love granola & Nutri-grain bars, so last evening I played around in the kitchen experimenting with my own recipe because homemade is always better, right?  They were still cooling before bed, but if the taste was any indication of the aroma that filled our home, we were in for a treat.

When I woke up this morning, little boy was still fast asleep, but I decided to sneak a taste of the raspberry-filled bars.  OH MY! These are too yummy not to share! 

Coconut Fruit-Filled Oatmeal Bars

Bars:  2¾ cups flour, 2¾ cups quick oats, 1¾ cups brown sugar, ¾ cup flaxseed meal, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1¾-2 cups of solid coconut oil

Fruit filling:  1 cup sugar and  2 cups of cherries, pears, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, apples, cranberries, mixed berries, or any other fruit of your choice 

Directions:  Preheat oven at 350 degrees and grease 13x9 pan.  With a potato masher, mix dry ingredients.  Mash in coconut oil until crumbly.  Set aside.  Mix sugar and desired fruit in a small saucepan.  Bring to a rapid boil until it thickens like syrup. Place ½ of dry ingredients in greased pan, lightly pack.  (I used the potato masher to do this; it worked great!)  Layer the hot fruit on top.  Add the remaining dry ingredients on top and lightly pack again.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool and serve.             

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