Holiday Polka Dot Bars

Holiday-colored candy-coated chocolate pieces or sprinkles easily add a festive flair to these yummy oat bars.

Recipe Ingredients:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour*
1 cup Quaker Oats®(quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
Candy-coated chocolate pieces in holiday colors, or holiday sprinkles in holiday colors, or colored sugars

Cooking Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 15 x 10 x 1-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, oats, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture and mix well. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
3. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove pan to wire rack. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over hot cookie in pan; let stand until softened, about 1 minute. With spatula or knife, spread softened chocolate evenly over cookie. Sprinkle with candy-coated chocolate pieces; press down lightly. Cool completely; cut into bars.

Makes 48 bars.

*Increase flour to 1 3/4 cups when using old fashioned oats.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Quaker Oats Company.