Favorite Jam Bars with Half the Fat, One-Third Less Sugar, m

jb_2011

Favorite Jam Bars with Half the Fat, One-Third Less Sugar, more Fiber

Makes 16 bars.

Nutrition per par (without nuts): 155 calories, 3 g. protein, 28 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 3.6 g fat, 1 mg chol, 233 sodium

*Note: Original full-fat/sugar recipe jam bars have 255 cal, 9 g. fat, 1 g. fiber per bar (without nuts).


1 1/2 cups quick oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup unbleached white flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup less-fat margarine (with 8 g. fat per tablespoon)
4 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk (add one more tablespoon if needed)
2/3 - 3/4 cup less-sugar jam or preserve of choice
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-9-inch or 8-by-8-inch baking pan with canola cooking spray. Combine oats, flours, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl and beat with mixer on low speed. Add margarine in chunks and beat on medium speed, cleaning margarine off beaters several times, until a nice crumb has formed. Drizzle buttermilk over the top of oat mixture and blend with mixer until moist. Add one more tablespoon of buttermilk if needed. Spread 2 cups of oat mixture in the bottom of baking dish and press firmly. Spread jam on top with spoon. If adding nuts, stir into remaining oat mixture and sprinkle over jam in pan. Press firmly. Bake in the center of the oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool, and cut into 16 bars.

*Notes:

Add Omega-3's to this recipe by adding 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (80 calories) to the oat mixture, adding 5 calories per bar. (One bar = 160 cal)

Adding nuts (which also add Omega-3's) according to recipe would add approximately15 calories per bar. (One bar = 170 cal)

If adding nuts and ground flaxseed, add 20 calories per bar. (One bar = 175 cal)