Fruity Cranberry and Orange Energy Bars
- 1 cup nuts chopped, walnuts, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts or rolled oats, divided
- 3/4 cup pastry flour, whole wheat
- 3/4 cup flour, all-purpose
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter, unsalted cold and cut into small pieces
- 1 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 5 cups cranberries fresh or frozen, divided
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup orange segments
- 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the crust:
- Mix together 3/4 cup nuts (or oats), flours, sugar and salt in a food processor, pulse until the nuts are finely ground.
- Add butter, pulse until well blended.
- Add egg, oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla and almond extract in a small bowl, whisking until well blended.
- With the motor running, add the liquid mixture to the food processor.
- Process, scraping down the sides, if needed, until the mixture begins to clump, 35 to 45 seconds (it will look crumbly).
- Measure out 1/2 cup of the mixture and mix in a bowl with the remaining 1/4 cup chopped nuts (or oats).
- Set aside for the topping.
- Preheat oven to 400AF.
- Well spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or grease with butter.
- For the fruit filling and finishing the bars:
- Stir together 3 cups cranberries, orange juice, sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is very thick, about 5 minutes.
- (It takes about 10 minutes to get thick if you start with frozen cranberries.)
- Stir in the remaining 2 cups cranberries, orange zest and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish.
- Spread evenly and press firmly into the bottom to form a crust.
- Spread the fruit filling evenly over the crust.
- Sprinkle the reserved topping over the filling.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350A and bake until the crust and topping are lightly brown, 25 to 30 minutes more.
- Allow to cool completely at least 2 hours.
- Cut into bars.
- Serve or store at an air-tight container.
nuts, pastry flour, flour, sugar, salt, butter, eggs, canola oil, vanilla, almond extract, cranberries, orange juice, sugar, cornstarch, orange segments, orange zest freshly, vanilla
Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/fruity-cranberry-orange-energy--51719 (may not work)