These tasty bars are great to have as a snack or a breakfast! If you want, you can substitute the apricots for another dried fruit of your choice, like cherries! They are Gluten-Free and Vegetarian.

Ingredients:

-3 cups gluten-free rolled oats

-2 teaspoons baking powder

-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

-1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

-2/3 cup reduced-fat (2%) milk

-1/2 cup plain 2% Greek Yogurt

-1/2 cup applesauce

-1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, divided

-4 tablespoons honey, divided

-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

-2 large eggs

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped (about 20 apricots)

How to make them:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

Into a large bowl, measure the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together and set aside.

In another large bowl, put the milk, yogurt, applesauce, 3 tablespoons of the peanut butter, 3 tablespoons of the honey, the olive oil, eggs, and vanilla and mix together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Add the dried apricots and carefully mix in. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown on top and the middle tests clean with a toothpick. Cool slightly.

In a small bowl, put the remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon honey. Whisk together. If too thick to spread, whisk in a teaspoon of water. Thinly spread over the baked oatmeal and then cut into 9 bars. Enjoy!

-Easy Everyday Mediterranean Diet Cookbook