Recipe: Whole Grain Banana Fruit and Nut Bars

WHOLE GRAIN BANANA FRUIT AND NUT BARS

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) light butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 small bananas)
1 1/2 cups quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
2/3 cup golden raisins or chopped pitted dates*
2/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts**

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray.

Stir together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in medium bowl; mix well. Set aside.

In large bowl, beat light butter and brown sugar with electric mixer until well-blended. Add egg and bananas; mix well. (Mixture will look curdled.) Add flour mixture; beat on low just until well-blended. Stir in oats, dates and walnuts. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Bake 20-25 minutes, until edges are golden brown and wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Store tightly covered at room temperature up to 2 days or place in airtight container and freeze up to 3 months. Defrost uncovered at room temperature.

*Other dried fruits may be substituted for dates.

**Toasted pecans, almonds or hazelnuts may be substituted for walnuts.

Cook's note: To save time, purchase walnuts and dates already chopped.

Servings: 24

Nutrition values per serving: 130 calories, 4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 21 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein, 15 mg cholesterol, 90 mg sodium.

Source: Quaker Oats