Cranberry Oatmeal Bar Cookies

Sandyg61's Note:

I always make this with cranberries but it could be made with almost any dried fruit. I adapted this recipe from a recipe in a mystery book by Joanne Fluke. This recipe can be doubled to make a 9 x 13 inch pan of cookies.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 16 cookies

• ½ cup melted butter (1stick)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg , beaten
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄8; teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup flour
• ¾ cup dried sweetened cranberries (or other chopped dried fruit)
• ¾ cup rolled oat (uncooked oatmeal)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, rack in the middle position.
2. Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl.
3. Add both sugars and let cool a bit.
4. Add eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
5. Add flour and mix.
6. Add the cranberries and oats and mix everything up. The dough will be quite stiff.
7. With a spatula spread dough evenly into a greased 8x8 baking pan.
8. Bake at 350 for 25– 30 minutes.
9. Cut into bars when cool.
10. These freeze well if you roll them in foil and put them in a freezer bag.

Reviews

[Robin R.]

Recipe is perfect. I have no notes at all for it, except that I skipped the nutmeg (allergy).

[Laura2of7]

These were really good. I thought they were a little on the sweet side even though I reduced the white sugar by half. The next time I may leave it out altogether.

I also accidently doubled the spices. It didn't hurt them at all. And since I was out of nutmeg, I used allspice instead. I replaced 1/4 cup of the cranberries with chopped walnuts but, in the future, I'll just add 1/2 cup of nuts along with the full amount of cranberries. I can also see using dried cherries and almonds. Or dried apples and pecans.

I used a metal pan (8x8) and the baking time was perfect. I lined the pan with parchment paper so I could lift them out before cutting. I plan on baking up a pan of these next week and mailing them off to my niece at college. They look like they'll travel real well. Thanks for posting your recipe, Sandyg61.

[Chef Dudo]

Great recipe! Easy, tasty, made it yesterday and it's already almost gone. Didn't have any cranberries and used raisins instead. Furthermore I left out the nutmeg (not too fond of nutmeg) and added 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger. The baking time was right on spot, the bars are chewy and full of flavour. certainly a keeper.
Thanks for posting.