Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Bars

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.

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

Servings: 12 -15 Bars

Author: Barbara Schieving

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.