Oaty apricot crumble squares

Apricot crumble in a handy square. What’s not to love?!

These are so nice for children after school, with a glass of milk; or for sporty types after hard exercise or during long bike rides. Or just as a sometimes-bit-of-gorgeousness with a cuppa.

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 25-30 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

200g of porridge oats, I used jumbo ones but it regular are good too
100g of plain flour
level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
pinch of sea salt
level teaspoon of cinnamon
200g butter
150g soft brown sugar
250g of unsulphured dried apricots, I used the Crazy Jack brand.
3 dessert spoons of apricot compote, I used Bonne Maman.

Instructions

Heat the oven to 180 degrees

Melt the butter and sugar together in a heavy saucepan until the sugar has dissolved.

Mix the oats, flour, bicarb, salt and cinnamon in a large heavy bowl then add the butter and sugar and give it a thoroughly good mix. Put to one side.

To make the apricot filling tip the apricots into a blender or food processor and add the compote then whizz for a minute or two until smooth.

Now butter a 20-21cm baking dish and press half the oat mixture all over the base, hard, so it really compacts. Then add the apricot mix and spread it all over the oat base. Top with the rest of the oat mix and give it all a very very firm press down.

Bake it on a low or middle shelf for 25-30 mins until golden brown.

Leave to cool for 15 mins before cutting into squares.

Nutrition Info

Oats

Oats are particularly high in manganese which is great for healthy bone formation, healthy skin and helping to control blood sugar. Oats are a wholegrain, that means the good stuff hasn’t been removed. Wholegrains are an important source of B vitamins and fibre.

Oats are a great source of the soluble fibre called beta-glucan. That’s what makes porridge kinda viscous and it stays quite viscous as it passes through you, sweeping up any excess cholesterol as it goes. A happy gut is at the heart of good health!

Oats do a special thing – as they pass through your intestine their bulk presses against its muscly walls. It presses back in response and by doing so its muscles get stronger. Oats are literally like a sparring partner for your digestive tract!

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Learn how to weave food like this into a joyful healthy diet with our weekly meal plans.

Where do baby apes sleep? In apricots!

Elsa Wilson

Portion Guidelines

Instead of living with the bore of weighing food, counting points or calories and tapping everything you eat into a phone you can use nature’s custom-designed tool – your hands!

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