Apple Almond Streusel Bars

Use half whole wheat flour in these bars and canola oil. Lowfat buttermilk takes the place of melted butter. If desired, you can substitute 25% of the sugar with SPLENDA sweetener or other baking substitute.

Makes 16 bars

1/2-cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons lowfat buttermilk
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar (or use SPLENDA sweetener or EQUAL baking substitute if desired)
1 large egg (higher omega-3 egg if available)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped unpeeled apple
1/3 cup chopped almonds

Almond-spice Glaze:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
1 1/2–2 teaspoons fat-free half-and-half or lowfat milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with canola cooking spray.
2. Add flours, baking powder, salt and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon to medium-sized bowl, stir and set aside.
3. In large mixing bowl, beat together canola oil, buttermilk, brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar with a wooden spoon or mixer on medium-low speed until smooth. Beat or stir in the egg and the vanilla extract.
4. Beat or stir in the flour mixture just until combined. Stir in the apples. Spread mixture evenly into the prepared pan, sprinkle chopped almonds over the top and bake for about 25 minutes (until top springs back when lightly touched). Cool in pan.
5. In small bowl, add almond-spice glaze ingredients and stir with spoon until nice and smooth. Add more fat-free half-and-half if needed for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over the top and cut into bars.

Per bar: 114 calories, 2 g protein, 17.5 g carbohydrate,
4.4 g fat (.4 g saturated fat, 2.6 g monounsaturated fat,
1.2 g polyunsaturated fat), 13 mg cholesterol, 1.5 g fiber, 73 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 34 percent.
Omega-3 fatty acids = .3, Omega-6 fatty acids = .9