Valentine's Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Cherry M&Ms

At the after-Christmas sales I got some special edition Cherry Cordial M&Ms to set aside for Valentine Cookies. I wasn't sure how I was going to use them. To save time and space in my no-counter kitchen, I decided a bar cookie would be easier than drop cookies requiring multiple cookie sheets, relying on the M&Ms to make them festive.

So after an internet search for an oatmeal bar cookie recipe, I landed on one that called for Raisinets, chocolate-covered raisins. A simple substitution of my cherry candies in place of the Raisinets, and here's what I am sending out to my siblings and my folks.

I also used wheat flour, which is all that I stock in my home, and was glad to find that it didn't make the recipe too heavy.

Raisinets Oatmeal Bars

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 (14-ounce) package NESTLÉ® RAISINETS® Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins
1 3/4 cups quick or old-fashioned oats - divided use

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in egg; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in Raisinets and 1 1/2 cups oats. Spread into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with remaining oats.
3. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Makes 24 bars.

Recipe is the property of Nestlé®.