Creating these Easy California Prune Oatmeal Squares
I know what you are thinking…and the answer is no, they are not just your grandmother’s favorite food!
I recently visited a prune orchard and drying facility in California and fell even more in love with prunes and prunes benefits.
California Prunes have a place in everyone’s diet: toddlers, teens, adults and elderly. That’s why I adore these bars because I can make them for all audiences; my nephew, my friends or the grandparents in my life.
California Prune Nutrition and Facts:
Prunes benefits…
- Research says consuming 5-6 prunes a day may support healthy bones.
- Prunes support good gut health.
- Boosting antioxidant intake can help provide added protection against heart, eye, memory and immune systems.
- California Prunes taste and pair like no other prunes in the world. They are fresh and sweet, have a reliable consistency and have a rich, smooth mouthfeel.
- A serving of 4-5 prunes has 280 mg potassium and 23 mcg of vitamin K. Potassium helps muscles contract and vitamin K helps to improve calcium balance & promotes bone mineralization.
I’ve incorporated prunes into a handful of recipes on Kroll’s Korner including my Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies , Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry , and Creamy Chocolate Smoothie !
Ingredients to make these California Prune Oatmeal Squares
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- California Prunes
- Lemon Juice
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon
- Quick cook oats
- Flour
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Baking Soda
- Salt
How to make California Prune Oatmeal Squares
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray an 8×8 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- Make the prune filling next: in a food processor , process 8 oz. of California Prunes with ¼ cup lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract . Process for 1-2 minutes or until prunes are blended well into a paste.
- Make the oatmeal crumb mixture next: In a medium sized bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients: oatmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.
- Take the softened butter and using clean hands, mix into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press half of the oatmeal mixture down into the pan to create the base layer.
- Evenly spread the prune mixture across the bottom oatmeal layer.
- Then gently press the remaining crumb mixture on top.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely and then cut into squares.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for up to 2 months.
Other ways to enjoy California Prunes
- They go well with proteins such as chicken or fish
- Grains; perfect in focaccia bread, diced in pilaf or couscous, or on cereal
- Add chopped prunes to your salads
- Cook them down to make sauces
- Incorporate them into baked goods such as muffins or cookies.
These Oatmeal California Prune Squares are…
- Simple to make
- Only require 10 ingredients
- A perfect treat for all ages
- Flavorful and ultra-tasty
- Sweet, but not too sweet. They’re just right!
- Great for someone new to prunes!
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Easy California Prune Oatmeal Squares
Ingredients
For the California Prune filling
- 8 oz. California Prunes, pitted and dried
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
For the oatmeal crumb topping
- 1 1/2 cups quick cook oatmeal, dry
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed (or coconut sugar)
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, unsalted and softened (12 Tbsp.)
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350° F. Spray an 8x8 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside.
- Remove butter from fridge to soften.
- Make the prune filling: in a food processor, process 8 oz. of California Prunes (chop them into smaller pieces if needed) with ¼ cup lemon juice, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Process for 1-2 minutes or until prunes are blended well into a paste. 8 oz. California Prunes, pitted and dried, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar), 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Make the oatmeal crumb mixture next: In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. 1 1/2 cups quick cook oatmeal, dry, 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose flour, 1 cup brown sugar, packed (or coconut sugar), 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt
- With clean hands, mix softened butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press half of the oatmeal mixture down into the pan to crease the crust layer. 1 1/2 sticks butter, unsalted and softened (12 Tbsp.)
- Evenly spread the prune mixture on top.
- Then sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture on top and press lightly into the prune paste.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool completely and then cut into squares.
