Plum-Filled Oat Bars Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 pounds plums, pits removed and rough chopped (6 cups)
• teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus one pinch
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Set aside.
3. Arrange chopped plums on rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast 15 to 20 minutes until fruit is soft. Transfer fruit and secreted juice to a blender and puree. Alternatively, transfer to a medium saucepan and puree with an immersion blender.
4. Place pureed fruit in saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in sugar and cornstarch mixture. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until mixture is thick, jammy, and reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
5. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, flour, cookie crumbs, brown sugar, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and cinnamon. Pour melted butter over mixture and stir.
6. Place half the oat mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan. Press firmly in an even layer. Top with plum filling. Crumble remaining oat mixture over the top. Gently squeeze bits into pea-sized clumps for added texture.
7. Bake until filling is bubbly and crumble topping is browned, about 45 minutes. Cool before cutting into squares.