Cherry-chocolate chip oatmeal bars - KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas

These chewy bars are perfect to stick into a lunch box, or to grab as a quick breakfast on the way out the door to school or work. Watch the video to see how easily Mama Steph mixes them up; they're so delicious!

 Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
• 1 cup dried cherries or other dried fruit  (raisins, blueberries, etc.)
• ½  to 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray or butter. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; and then spray the paper, too. (If you don't have parchment paper, just use foil, bars may just brown faster).

2.     In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugars, egg, salt, and cinnamon until smooth. Add flour, oats, and cherries; fold in  just until combined.

3.     Spread batter  corner-to-corner in prepared pan, smooth top, and bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift  bars onto a cutting board; cut into 16 bars.

To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

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