8 servings 2 Better Balance Bites/Blue Points
Calories 77 Fat 1.2g Sat. Fat 0.2g Protein 2.3g Carbs 27.5g Fiber 2.5g Sugars 1.7g
Ingredients
· Baking/cooking spray
· 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
· 2 large lemons (see notes)
· 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (see notes)
· 1/2 cup sugar replacement
· 2 Tbsp flour
· 1 tsp baking powder
· Pinch salt
· 1/3 cup blueberries (see notes)
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9x5 loaf pan with baking/cooking spray.
2. Place the oatmeal in a medium-large bowl. Grate the zest of both lemons into the bowl and toss with the oatmeal. Then squeeze the juice from both lemons into the bowl and stir to saturate the oatmeal. If the oatmeal still seems a little dry, add a tablespoon or two of hot water so that it is moist, but not overly wet. Set aside for about 20 minutes, stirring on occasion to redistribute the moisture.
3. After 20 minutes, the oatmeal will likely be a bit stiff. Mix in the applesauce to loosen up the batter, then mix in the sugar replacement until well combined.
4. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the oatmeal mixture. Stir to incorporate fully.
5. Add the blueberries to the batter and gently toss to incorporate them without mashing them.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the edges start to brown too much, loosely cover with a piece of foil.
7. Set the pan onto a cooling rack and allow the bars to cool in the pan about 10 minutes. Turn it out onto the cooling rack and allow to cool completely before cutting.
Notes
· Lemon and blueberries aren’t the only choices here. Swap out the lemons for any citrus you prefer. Blueberries can be swapped out for other fruits or nuts.
· Applesauce works best here because it works well with the citrus. You can try mashed banana or pumpkin puree, but they may dull the citrus.
