Cranberry Chocolate Bars
Chewy chocolate bars packed with oats, cranberries, and walnuts.
Ingredients
all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups
baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons
salt
1/4 teaspoon
butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks)
granulated sugar
3/4 cup
brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup
eggs
2
vanilla extract (Wilton pure vanilla extract)
2 teaspoons
orange zest
1 1/2 tablespoons
quick-cooking oats (raw)
2 1/4 cups
semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups
cranberries (fresh or dried, coarsely chopped; if using dried, soak in hot water first)
1 1/4 cups
pecans (chopped)
1/2 cup
chocolate chips (melted, optional)
1/4 cup
Instructions
1
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325°F (about 163°C). Lightly spray a 10x15 inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray.
2
Step 2
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mix until well combined.
3
Step 3
Add the flour mixture and orange zest, mix until well combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and cranberries.
4
Step 4
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle pecans on top.
5
Step 5
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown. Cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack.
6
Step 6
If desired, drizzle with melted chocolate. Cut into bars.
