• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Barbara Bakes™
  • Home
  • About
  • Info
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Breads
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Ice Cream
    • Pastry
    • All Desserts »
  • Main Dishes
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Pasta
    • Meatless
    • All Main Dishes »
  • Side Dishes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Baking Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Baking Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Dessert

    Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Bars

    December 7, 2011 by Melissa Griffiths 44 Comments

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Jump to Recipe

    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]

    Image
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    No ratings yet

    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.

    12-weeks-of-Christmas Cookies & Sweets

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    « Baked Penne
    Creamy Cashew Chicken Puffs (Vols-au-Vents) »

    Filed Under: Bar Cookies, Dessert Tagged With: 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies, Christmas, cookie, Dessert

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    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
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Baking made easy! Sharing fabulous recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, breads and more. I also post my adventures in the kitchen, as well as great family meals. Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More »

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Press

    Browse

    • Recipe Index
    • Popular
    • Baking Tips
    • Travel

    Subscribe

    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    As an Amazon affiliate, and affiliate with other businesses, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 barbarabakes.com. All rights reserved. DISCLOSURE - PRIVACY POLICY.