Healthy Snack Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Dried Fruit — chopped
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening
• 1 Egg — slightly beaten
• 1 cup Nuts — chopped
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar — packed
• 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 4 tablespoons Wheat Bran
• 4 tablespoons Wheat Germ — toasted
• 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 4 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening
• 4 tablespoons Brown Sugar — packed
• 2 tablespoons Honey
• 2 tablespoons Molasses
• 1 Egg — slightly beaten
• 2 cups Quick-cooking Oats
• 4 tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour

Instructions:

1. Topping: In a large bowl, combine chopped dried fruit, shortening, and 2/3 cup boiling water; let stand for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and combine. Set aside.
2. Crust: In another large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, honey, molasses, and egg together, then add oats and flour until well combined. Using a fork, press into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan which has been prepared with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
3. After removing crust from oven, spread fruit mixture evenly over the top and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool completely, then cut into bars.

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