Fancy making your own oat bars at home? This week we combine one of our favourite cereals, oats, with Shiitake and raisins. Ideal as a snack – for example, before exercise.
For the base
- ½ cup sunflower or corn oil (or butter)
- 1 cup organic brown sugar
- 1½ cups wholemeal flour
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups quick-cook oats
For the Shiitake and raisin filling
- ½ cup organic brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 cup water
- 150 g dried Shiitake
- ½ cup raisins
For the cinnamon glaze
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon milk
Method
- Rehydrate the Shiitake in water for 24 hours, then chop.
- Filling: mix the water with the cornflour, add the sugar, raisins and Shiitake and cook over a medium heat, stirring, until thick. Leave to cool.
- Base: preheat the oven to 190 °C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Beat the oil (or butter) with the sugar, add the flour, bicarbonate and salt, then the oats and a tablespoon of water.
- Divide the dough in two. Spread one half on the tray, cover with the filling, then top with the other half (add a little water to make it easier to spread).
- Bake at 190 °C for 35 minutes.
- Glaze: mix the icing sugar and cinnamon, then stir in the milk until thick. Spread over the cooled bake, leave to set and cut into bars.
Enjoy!