I know for folks who aren't used to being "that girl" (or guy) who brings the "healthy stuff" for tailgating, taking that first step can seem daunting. I mean really... who wants to be the buzz-kill at the game showing up with the wilted veggie tray and fat-free ranch dip?
Not me.
If you didn't immediately whip up a batch of last week's Smoky Sweet Potato Dip, shame on you... but I understand. You need a gentle step forward.
How about dessert? Or for those early morning games, something a little sweet to balance out your bloody mary :)
These Caramel Apple-Pecan Bars
are an ideal choice for the reluctant healthy tailgater. They're a cross between a coffee cake & a bar cookie... two phrases that make me smile, especially when shared in a sentence.
First up, they're sweet... which by itself means they're likely going to be a fan favorite. But they're made with dried apples + 100% whole wheat flour (hello healthy fiber) and topped with pecans (yummy, healthy nut).
I also used Greek-style yogurt in place of some of the butter in the original recipe to trim a little bit of the overall saturated fat as well. I got the idea from my friends over at Cabot Creamery, who recently developed this handy substitution chart for their Greek-style yogurt. I love it because you can use Greek-style yogurt in place of higher fat ingredients; same taste & texture, fewer calories and more protein. [As most of you know, Cabot is a client of mine... they didn't ask me to share this with you, but I couldn't resist. I think it's too darn cool.]
Anyway, back to the bars. Let's be clear on one thing, these aren't short on sugar. And sugar is sugar. It tastes great. But it's nothing but empty calories. Having a 100% whole wheat fruit filled bar cookie doesn't necessarily mean you can eat the whole pan. But I can promise it's a better choice than that box of store-brought brownies your friend picked up at Kroger on her way to the game. I say those are the real buzz kill :)
Happy tailgating!
Caramel Apple-Pecan Bars
by
Adapted from MyRecipes.com
Ingredients (12 bars)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek-style yogurt (I used Cabot)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour (I used King Arthur Flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups sliced, dried apples, chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans halves, chopped
- 1/4 cup homemade Caramel Sauce or store-bought caramel
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8- x 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Cream butter and Greek-style yogurt in a large mixing bowl; gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating well. Add eggs, and beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a small mixing bowl; gradually add to creamed mixture, stirring well. Stir in apples.
Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Top with pecans. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center of bars comes out clean. Let cool. Drizzle with caramel and cut into bars.
This is an open blog hop. If you're planning on blogging delicious eats for football season, I invite you to join in. Simply fill out the link to share your recipe - everyone's welcome, all football season long. And please be sure to visit the other recipes listed for more great tailgating ideas.
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