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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Bars

    Published by Melissa on December 7, 2011 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 44 Comments

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    Chocolate-Cherry-Oatmeal-Bars-5-Barbara-Bakes

    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. Pillsbury has a diagram on how to cut them, as well as other Secrets For Bar Cookies And Brownies.

    Chocolate-Cherry-Oatmeal-Bars-collage

    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

    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Bar Cookies
    Keyword: 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies, cookie, cooking, Dessert, food, recipe
    Servings: 12 -15 Bars
    Author: Barbara Schieving
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    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 9x13-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.

    12-weeks-of-Christmas Cookies & Sweets

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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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    1. Micaela P.

      December 26, 2012 at 10:35 am

      Hi Barbara! Made these for dessert on Christmas Eve, once again a huge hit 🙂 This time, instead of regular M&Ms, I used the coconut M&Ms and I highly recommend this sub to you and others! (for those of us who love coconut) This bar recipe is awesome.

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        December 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm

        Hi Micaela. Love the idea of changing them up with Coconut M&Ms. Thanks!!

        Reply
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