Recipe

Chewy Cherry Fruit Bars Recipe

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Ingredients

1/4 tsp salt
2/3 c light brown sugar
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 large egg
1 1/2 tbsps honey
2 tbsps unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsps unsweetened applesauce
1 c dried sour cherries (about 4 oz), coarsely sliced
3- inch strip of orange zest
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp coarse sugar (optional)
1/2 c unsweetened apple juice
1 tsp baking powder
1 c all-purpose flour

Directions

Step #1 Preheat the oven to 325°.
Step #2 Combine the dried cherries, orange zest, apple juice & honey in a small nonreactive ovenproof saucepan & bring to a boil over moderate heat.
Step #3 Cook, stirring, for 5 mins.
Step #4 Put the pan in the oven & bake for about 30 mins, stirring, until the liquid is absorbed.
Step #5 Let cool slightly, then pulse in a food processor/blender until finely sliced.
Step #6 Refrigerate until chilled, or for up to 4 days.
Step #7 In a medium bowl, stir this together the all-purpose & whole wheat flours, the baking powder, salt & cinnamon.
Step #8 Using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar & butter until mixd.
Step #9 Add the egg & beat on high speed until thick & pale, about 5 mins.
Step #10 Add the apple sauce & dry ingredients & beat on lowish speed until mixd; the dough will be sticky.
Step #11 Divide the dough in half & wrap each piece in plastic.
Step #12 Shape each half into a 12-inch log & put in the fridge until firm.
Step #13 Preheat the oven to 350°.
Step #14 Unwrap one log & set it between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.
Step #15 Roll out the dough to a 13-by-5-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
Step #16 Remove the top piece of plastic.
Step #17 Spoon half of the cherry filling in a 1-inch-thick stripe down the center of the length of the dough, leaving a 1/2 -inch border at each end.
Step #18 Using the plastic wrap, fold up one side of the dough to partially cover the filling & flatten slightly.
Step #19 Lift the other side to cover the filling, slightly overlapping the first piece of dough, & pinch the sides together to seal.
Step #20 Tuck in the ends.
Step #21 Repeat the process with the remaining dough & filling.
Step #22 Roll the filled logs onto a baking sheet, seam sides down, & flatten to form 12-by-2-inch logs.
Step #23 Brush each lightly with the egg white & sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Step #24 Bake for about 20 mins, or until golden & the tops begin to crack.
Step #25 Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 mins.
Step #26 Using a serrated knife, trim the ends & slice each log into sixteen 1-inch bars.
Step #27 Notes: ONE BAR: Calories 63 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 gm, Cholesterol 9 mg, Protein 1 gm, Total Fat.
Step #28 9 gm, Saturated Fat.
Enjoy the Chewy Cherry Fruit Bars recipe