Cranberry Oatmeal Bar Cookies

Description: 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.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter (1stick)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries (or other chopped dried fruit)
• 3/4 cup rolled oats (uncooked oatmeal)

Steps:

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.