Dried Fruit Bars

Pour 1/2 cup of water over the dates and let them soak for 30 minutes. Transfer the dates along with the liquid to a blender, add the honey, and blend into a paste.

Soak the raisins in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water and pat the raisins dry.

Spread the rolled oats in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 340 °F (170 °C) until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Finely chop the nuts, peaches, and dried apricots, mix them in a bowl with the toasted oats, and add the raisins and dried cherries.

Transfer the date paste to a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the apple juice and cinnamon, bring to a boil, and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Let it cool slightly, add it to the oat and nut mixture, and stir well.

Transfer the resulting mixture onto a baking sheet lined with lightly oiled parchment paper, smooth it out, and cover the top with another sheet of parchment. Bake at 340 °F (170 °C) for 30 minutes until golden brown.