Friday Food - Cereal Bar Cookies

When I saw these cereal bar cookies posted, I knew I had to make them.  My first thought was they would be great to take as snacks fuel for a long run.  I'm not a fan of gels.  I like Shot Bloks or Chomps but have found I actually do well with granola bars, cereal bars, little PB&J squares, etc.  Last Friday evening, I decided to make them but try to add in some healthier ingredients I thought would work well with the types of things I normally eat while running.  I'd call them a success and can see making more tweaks in the future with them as well.

Cereal Bar Cookies
adapted from Once a Month Mom

1 cup applesauce
1-1/2 cups rolled oats, ground into flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup almonds, ground into flour
1/2 cup brown rice syrup
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup jam (I used strawberry-rasberry)

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix everything together except the jam.  Divide dough (will be sticky if you are using the above combination) in half.  Divide first half among greased muffin tins (should make 18).  Press down and press up sides of pan slightly to form a cup.  Top with jam.  Then, top with remaining dough and try to seal around the jam.  Bake 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool 5-10 minutes and then remove from pan.

Makes 18.