Palm Oil Free Treats - 9. Fruit Bars

With ever increasing awareness about the negative effects that the palm oil industry is having on the environment, it remains a great shame that more and more everyday products seem to contain it. However, as companies are permitted to list it as "vegetable oil" in their ingredients consumers are unable to make an informed decision.

The worst thing for many consumer-level palm oil activists is not just the fact that basic products contain it, but also that those rare indulgences are now a thing of the past with palm oil found (but listed as vegetable oil) in all kinds of treats including chocolate, sweets, ice cream and numerous types of biscuit. So, at A-Z Animals we have prepared a number of palm oil free recipes for you to enjoy!

Treat 9: Fruit Bars

Ingredients

90g large oats 90g wholemeal flour 40g wheat bran 120g brown sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 120g cubed butter, softened 1 egg 275g chopped and sugared fruit

Cooking Preheat the oven to 180 °C/350 °F/gas mark 4. Grease and line a baking tin. Using your fingertips, crumble flour and butter together in a bowl until it resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the the rest of the dry ingredients and combine well. Beat in the egg then press the mixture into the baking tin, flattening the top.

Add fruit to the top, spreading evenly over the mixture and sprinkle a little wheat bran over the top. Bake in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until the tops are golden. Leave to cool until still slightly warm on a wire rack under a slightly damp cloth to prevent them from drying out. Cut into equal sized bars and leave to cool properly. They can be kept for a few days in an airtight container. Save the rainforest. Save the orang-utan. Save the world. Sign the petition today.