Instructions:

Apricot Oatmeal Bars

19% calorie reduction from traditional recipe

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
1/2 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold stick butter or margarine
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup apricot or peach spreadable fruit

*May substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener

Combine flour, oats, Equal, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender, until mixture is very fine in texture and begins to stick together slightly. Stir in water and vanilla until well blended.

Reserve 3/4 cup flour mixture. Press remaining mixture firmly and evenly on bottom of lightly sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is lightly browned at edge.

Remove from oven and spread with fruit. Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture, pressing gently into fruit. Bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until flour mixture is slightly browned on top. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.

Makes 16 servings

Nutrition information per serving (1 square): 108 cal., 2 g pro., 14 g carb., 6 g fat, 15 mg chol., 27 mg sodium

Food exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat