Zero Waste Recipes: Cranberry, Orange and Oat Bars

As we look for ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, dealing with the huge problem of food waste is one way we can all make a difference. Having some key recipes to use up leftover food is a great way to cut down on what ends up in the bin.

In the UK, we throw away 10.2m tonnes of food waste each year, creating more than 20m tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the same emissions as 3.5m cars.

Three food waste facts everyone needs to know – Which?

After Christmas we always seem to have half a jar of cranberry sauce left in the fridge that gets forgotten about. This recipe is a really great way of using up that last bit of cranberry sauce in a zesty treat, perfect for taking out on a winter walk to enjoy with a Klean Kanteen of coffee. Try changing it up by swapping cranberry sauce for that leftover jar of mincemeat, or adding some de-stoned dates. This recipe makes 12 bars.

Ingredients 

100g (4oz) self-raising flour

100g (4oz) porridge oats

100g (4oz) light brown sugar 

150g (5oz) butter

2 tablespoons cranberry sauce

Grated rind of 1 orange 

1. Preheat the oven 180’C/ Fan 160’C. Lightly grease a shallow 18cm cake tin.
2. Mix flour, oats, light brown sugar and orange zest in a bowl. Add the butter and rub into the dry mixture to form a crumbly breadcrumb. Spread half over the base of the tin and firm down lightly. Spread over the cranberry sauce and top with the remaining crum mixture and firm down.
3. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into bars.