Gluten Free Oat & Cranberry Slice

Prep time: 10m • Cook time: 20m • Yield: makes 12 squares

This is a perfect slice of goodness!

Great for those times when you feel like “just something” with a cup of herbal tea or to put into a lunchbox. Touted as one of the worlds healthiest foods, oats are loaded with fibre (more so than any other grain) which fills you up and keeps you lean. Oats have also been linked to lowering your risk of heart disease (as part of a healthy balanced diet), lowering cholesterol and reducing your risk of colorectal cancer. Oats are naturally gluten free, however, because they are often processed with wheat, they are contaminated and cannot be eaten by those avoiding gluten. However, there is one brand in Australia that is wheat free, nut free and uncontaminated called “Gloriously Free“, which is a saviour to those who love oats for breakfast and in their snacks.

Along with oats, this delicious slice includes:

• Buckinis – a rich source of plant protein

• Coconut – high in fibre

• Pumpkin Seeds – rich in antioxidants

• Dried cranberries – a good source of vitamin C

• Sunflower seeds – helps to support thyroid function through its high percentage of selenium

• Ground ginger – a herb that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties

If you don’t happen to have cranberries on hand, go ahead and replace them with currants, raisins or chopped figs.

Ingredients

160g unsalted butter

1/2 cup (125ml or 4.2fl oz) honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (145g or 5oz) gluten-free oats

3/4 cup (100g or 3.5oz) gluten-free plain flour

1 tsp gluten-free baking powder

1/4 cup (25g or 0.90oz) activated buckwheat (buckinis)

1/2 cup (35g or 1.2oz) shredded coconut

1/4 cup (40g or 1.5oz) pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup (50g or 1.8oz) unsweetened dried cranberries

1/4 cup (35g or 1.2oz) sunflower seeds

1 tsp dried ground ginger

METHOD

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C (355F) and line a 30x20cm (12 x 8in) slice tin with baking paper

2. Melt butter with honey and vanilla over low heat

3. In a food processor, blitz 1/2 cup of the oats, the flour and baking powder until oats have mostly broken down

4. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients, then stir in melted butter mixture

5. Using a silicon spatula, press firmly into prepared tray

6. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown, then remove from tray to a wire rack to cool

7. Once completely cool, cut into squares