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Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars + Back-To-School Lunchbox Ideas

This post is sponsored by Ocean Spray. All opinions are always 100% my own.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars – A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!



This is me finding a solution to your (our) back-to-school lunchbox dilemma.

Hello lovelies! Happy Happy Friday!
What’s that? You’re hungry? I got you.

In fact, I’ve got something for everyone today because today’s post is sponsored by my really, very, super favorite, Ocean Spray. I mean, can you imagine life without Craisins? Exactly. Or without the forever funny commercials with the two gentleman standing in a sea of cranberries? Exactly. Or a day without Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice?! Madness!

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

So it’s officially back-to-school time around these parts. It seems only appropriate to get our wheels turning about some great to-go lunches, snacks, and sandwiches.

As of this week, both of mine are in class, and I’m in the kitchen, whipping up snacks and all kinds of other food ideas for their lunchboxes, as well as mine and my husband’s. Let’s not forget about the grown-ups; we need our lunchbox-fix just as much as those other two.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

I know this looks like I went and robbed the Ocean Spray factory… which is why there’s also a shelf at the grocery store wondering where all its cranberries went + a few other thiiiings?
However, in the meantime, we’re enjoying dried cranberries, yogurt covered cranberries, juices, and granola clusters. I got a bit of something for every one of us.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

We also have Peanut Butter-Nutella sandwiches! On whole grain bread...  That’s called a half-assed healthy sammich. I’m still learning this whole parenting situation, and sometimes you gotta give in on their food choices, half way. Emphasis on half way. They say “MOM!Nutella!”, YOU say,”On whole grain bread!”. Compromise.

BUT, washing down that PB & Nutella Sandwich with Ocean Spray’s Sparkling Cranberry? BEST IDEA OF EVER! Bubbly, smooth, delicious and crisp. All those 4 words woven into one dang good drink. You’ve got to try it.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

I’m also crushing on the Cranberry Granola Fruit Clusters. A handful of these makes for a perfect snack.  I can never stop popping them into my mouth, pebble after pebble. They remind me of freshly baked cranberry bars in crunchy snack form.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

Heeeey speaking of bars! Not the tequila place kind of bar. The kind that you eat – Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars. Although we can definitely do both. Eat and drink. And be merry! Focus.

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

The only thing that is as fabulous as applesauce and dried cranberries, is combining them together, and adding a buttery oat crumble mixture all around. Trust me.

What’s better than that, you say? That the bars will last you all week! Tried and True. I place the bars in an airtight container, pop ’em in the fridge, and we have a lunch snack ready on the go. These bars are also part of my survival skills… how do you think I got through this past week?! The struggle with back-to-school issues is very real. Well, it’s a struggle, until I go to Target, SOLO, and buy all the things I NEED, like laundry detergent, without a kid screaming about the Dora shoes, five aisles over.

In other words, what better motivation to whip up a healthier treat in minutes?

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

You very well know that if we let them, our kids would eat ice cream for lunch. I say, let’s offer them the next best better-for-you snack: Greek-Yogurt Covered Cranberries, Fruit Clusters, dried fruits, and delicious fruit juices. For special occasions, such as Fridays, Peanut Butter Nutella Sandwiches are a must. AND Crumble Bars, all day, every day!

One more thing! From 8/18/15 – 9/18/15, share your lunchbox tips & tricks and how a little cranberry can make your lunchbox amazing with Ocean Spray on Twitter and Facebook using #LunchboxMaster. Fifteen lucky lunchbox masters will be chosen to win the ultimate Ocean Spray Master Lunchbox set!
Hop over to Ocean Spray’s Event Page for more information.

To learn more about Ocean Spray and their wonderful products, you can follow them on your favorite social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

ENJOY!

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Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars | www.diethood.com | A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!

Cranberry Apple Crumble Bars

Katerina | Diethood
A delicious combination of apple sauce and cranberries nestled between a sweet and buttery oats-crumble mixture. Perfect snack for on-the-go!
5 from 1 vote
Servings : 12
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • pinch salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened, cut in 12 pieces
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
  • pinch nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Line a brownie pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the sides; set aside. If not using parchment paper, you can also grease the pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda, oats and light brown sugar; mix using a whisk until thoroughly combined.
  • Add pieces of butter to the mix; cut in the butter using a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbles. You can also cut in the butter with a fork or use your hands.
  • In a separate mixing bowl combine applesauce, cranberries, and spices; mix until combined.
  • Set aside 1-cup of the crumbles mixture.
  • Transfer the rest of the crumbles mixture to the previously prepared baking pan; press it evenly onto the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake in the oven for 8 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
  • Add the applesauce mixture over the baked crust.
  • Sprinkle the reserved crumbles mixture over the top.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
  • Cool completely in the pan.
  • Remove from pan.
  • Cut and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 172 kcal | Carbohydrates: 41 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 0 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 29 mg | Potassium: 78 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 26 g | Vitamin A: 5 IU | Vitamin C: 0.2 mg | Calcium: 21 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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