Oats Crumb Squares with three types of fillings: Coconut, Banana and Dates.

In the rush to make this recipe, unable to resist, after I saw its picture on watsapp posted by one of my friends, I forgot to check the availability of ingredients mentioned and didn't second check the method of preparation of this recipe with my friend. Thus ended up with only 1/3 rd of the filling mentioned in the recipe. 

In this recipe, first a crumb mixture is prepared, half of which is spread onto the base of a baking dish, then goes the filling on top and then remaining crumb mix. The original recipe is with dates filling, and my friend mentioned only one third of the quantity, which was a typing error and I followed it exactly how it said. With only one third of the filling and unable to complete the filling layer plus dates crisis in my pantry, I jumped to Coconut filling to complete the remaining part of this layer. But the story repeated with the incomplete layer staring at me, and before I could think I saw banana in front of me which I sliced and caramelized and thus three different flavors in one layer of this Oats crumb. The two different flavors added by me tasted  more awesome than the original filling, though Dates filling is no bad in taste.

You can proceed with any one form of the filling, but triple the measurements of the filling of your choice.

Over to the recipe,

Ingredients:

• Oats- 2 cups
• Brown sugar-3/4 cup
• Butter- 150 gm
• Flour- 1/2 cup
• Roasted nuts(any) - 1/2 cup

For the Dates filling:

• Dates 1/2 cup
• baking soda- a pinch

For the Coconut filling:

• Coconut- 1 - 1 1/2 cups
• Condensed milk- 1/2 cup

For the Caramel Banana filling:

• Sugar-1/2 cup
• Water-1/4 cup(hot)
• Butter-1 tbsp
• milk- 1 tbsp
• Banana- 1, sliced

Method:

• Dry roast Oats and keep aside.
• In a food processor, blend together brown sugar and butter. 
• Add oats to this mix and blend again just until the oats, sugar and butter mixture resembles bread crumbs.
• To this add roasted nuts and mix with a spatula.
• Keep aside until filling is ready.

Dates filling:

• Cook deseeded dates with baking soda and very little water until it turns mushy.

Coconut filling:

• Mix Coconut with condensed milk. Keep aside.

Caramel Banana filling:

• Heat sugar in a pan till it turns caramel colour. Add butter and mix well.
• Once butter melts, add water and if mixture still appears thick or crystallized, add milk and cook.
• To this add Bananas and cook just for 30 seconds.

Assembling:

• In an 8 x 6 inch  greased pan( I lined my tray with foil to keep it easy to lift the crumble from the tray  and cut once done), spread half of oats mix. Press gently with your fingers and smoothen the mixture.
• Spread dates filling to first third portion of the tray, over the oats mix. 
• To the second third portion, spread banana filling and coconut filling to the remaining part.
• Over the filling, spread remaining oats mix and give it a gentle press.
• Bake at 150 C in a pre- heated oven for 15-20 minutes in the middle rack.
• Cool before you cut.
• Cut in squares and serve.