Fruit Bars

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 2 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 2/3 cup dried apricots; chopped
• 1/2 cup pitted dates; chopped
• 1/2 cup pitted prunes; chopped

Method

Preheat oven to 400° F. Grease a shallow 11" x 7" baking pan with butter. Put butter, sugar and corn syrup in a large saucepan; stir continuously over medium heat until melted.  
Remove from heat. Stir rolled oats into melted mixture. Spread half of mixture in bottom of pan to form a thin layer.  Press with the back of a spoon to compact the mixture and smooth the top. In a medium size bowl, mix apricots, dates and prunes together.  
Sprinkle evenly over top of packed mixture. 
Spread remaining mixture on top of fruit; press with spoon again.  Bake about 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool 5 minutes.  Using a knife, mark surface of mixture with lines to use as a guide for cutting.  Leave in pan to cool completely.  
Cut in squares, then lift out with a small spatula. Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 1 week.