Cranberry Chocolate Oat Bars
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Recipe type: Snack
Prep: 
Cook: 
Total time: 
Serves: 32
 
All the flavours of an oatmeal cookie in a dense, chewy bar.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup orange juice or milk
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour (or an additional ½ cup all purpose flour)
  • 1½ cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup butter or margarine, room temperature
  • 1½ cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13" baking dish and set aside.
  2. Combine cranberries and juice or milk in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds on full power. Set aside while you mix the rest of the ingredients (this helps prevent the cranberries from sucking moisture out of your bars and drying them out).
  3. Combine flours, oats, baking powder, and salt in small bowl.
  4. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
  5. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well.
  6. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until well combined.
  7. Stir in cranberry mixture and chocolate chips.
  8. Spread dough firmly in prepared pan and bake for 25-28 minutes, until center is set and top is slightly golden.
  9. Cool completely on rack before cutting into squares.
Notes
These are also delicious with a ½ cup of nuts or coconut stirred in along with the chocolate and cranberries! Store at cool room temperature or in the fridge - I actually liked these best cold. They also freeze well.
Recipe by Hidden Ponies at https://hiddenponies.com/2012/11/saturday-sweets-cranberry-chocolate-oat-bars/