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The rich, dense, chewy texture of a blondie, but these cookie bars are also loaded with chocolate chips, coconut, oatmeal and tart cherries, then topped with red and green M&Ms to dress them up for the holidays.
It’s a deliciously decadent bar cookie filled with all of my favorite cookie ingredients. I cut them on the diagonal to create the diamond shape.
I created this cookie for a holiday cookie article in the new FoodieCrush magazine. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you need to. It’s so well done, the layout and photography are gorgeous. It’s a feast for the eyes, as well as loaded with fun articles, great recipes, and entertaining and gift ideas from talented food bloggers across the country.
I’m proud to be a small part of the debut issue and wish Heidi much success with her new venture.[/donotprint]
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Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats not quick-cooking
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup dried cherries cut in half
- ½ cup red & green M&Ms coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 350º if using a metal pan or 325º if using a glass pan.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl mix the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the eggs one at a time mix until well blended. Mix in the vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, coconut and cherries. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and sprinkle M&Ms on top.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. (Don’t overcook.) Cool on a rack to room temperature before cutting. Optional: Cut bars on the diagonal to form diamonds.
Valérie ( France )
Très joliment coloré et craquant
Voilà des images bien méritantes
Je te souhaite une excellente journée
Valérie
Deborah
Love these!! I’m in love with cookie bars right now, and I need to add these to my must make list asap!
MyFudo
This will perhaps be my favorite, all occasion treat. You can just have the M&Ms colors on top changed depending on the occasion. All red for valentines day, (cut the cookies in heart shaped perhaps…) Colorful M&Ms for kiddie parties…etc, etc…You cannot run out of ideas with this recipe’s versatility. This is just what i need! Thanks a lot! Excellent post!
Claire @ Claire K Creations
Oooh these look good! I love the way you made the star without wasting any. I’ve been asked to bring dessert to our Christmas dinner with friends and these might be just the thing.
jennifurla
gorgeous blog, jumped over from your guest post..blogger spotlight.
My Inner Chick
—-Ohhhhhhhhhhh, these look dreamy :))
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc
I love the colors and flavors of these. Perfect for xmas gift
Rocky Mountain Woman
I love these kinds of cookies when you are doing “mass production” this time of year. They are so much easier to make than individual cookies!
I also love the red and green. I’m putting them on the menu for the Christmas Open House!!!
Merry Christmas, sweetie!
Amy @ uTryIt
This is such a festive treat. It’ll be a nice dessert to make for the Holiday gatherings. I love your finishing touch on the arrangement of the bars.
Congrats on being a part of the Magazine. I’m drooling over all the yummy recipes and gorgeous photography. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Heidi @foodiecrush
Barbara, I loooove that your recipe was so totally Christmas, and original. Makes me starry eyed. Thanks for being in the mag, you are such an amazing blogger and generous friend. XO
Blond Duck
These are going on my need to bake list!
natalie (the sweets life)
i love cookie bars and these are esp fun cut in diamond shapes. thanks for the idea!
Lisa @ Sweet as Sugar Cookies
I love how you made it into a star shape.
Maria
So festive! Love these bars!
Stefanie
Oh yummy! Very festive looking. Love all the flavors in there!! 🙂
Joy
it is so festive!
vianney
I was so happy to see you featured, congrats!! love these sweet holiday treats!!
sue
Oh that sounds like a bar full of goodness.
Paula
A delicious and festive bar for sure! Love your presentation of it, that star is lovely.
Rosa
Those bars are terrific! What a marvelous combination.
Cheers,
Rosa