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In case you haven’t figured it out by now, bar cookies are my absolute, all-time favorite treat.
Think about it: they’re delicious, easy, and very packable. Someone who bakes as much as I do needs to be able to transport baked goods without an epic fail, and bars are conducive to that. Whether I’m headed to holiday potlucks and parties or just to the office, bars are my jam.
And these bars are the best. Two layers of oatmeal cookie dough ,sandwich a luscious caramel filling, all filled and topped with holiday M&M’s® bling. Who could ask for anything more?
Not me, that’s for certain. I’m trying to really focus on what’s important these days, and that can get hard when everyone is scrambling for holiday gifts. Let’s just say that while I happily shop for presents, I’m also happier when I can create memories that my children and I will share forever.
Some of my happiest memories are simple ones. For instance, I was fixing a seam the other day that had come unstitched, and my children sat there, watching me. I told them that even though I’m not much use at sewing, my grandmother taught me the basics. I’d go over to her house and she’d teach me. I still remember that when I was about eight years old, she and I made a little pink apron together for me. I still have it, put away for safekeeping.
Other memories of people long gone come flooding back at unexpected times. We would visit my grandparents in New York every year when I was young, and at the time, I was an early riser. My grandmother (this is the other one) would get up with me, meet me in the kitchen and make me breakfast. I’d sit at the kitchen table with my juice and peanut butter sandwich (breakfast of champions!) and watch her bustle around, getting ready for the day. I never realized back then how tired she must have been, and how irritating it was to be up before everyone else with just a child for company. But she did it without complaining.
While I hope that someday my children cherish happy memories of our time together, I can’t take any of that for granted. My children don’t really owe me anything at all. Instead, it’s my job to give them the best possible life with a string of wonderful moments. Baking together is one way that I can do that. We like to raid the holiday section at Target to get all the ingredients we need in fun holiday packaging, like Quaker Oats (which is available in holiday packaging at Target) and Glad®!
This recipe is beautiful in its simplicity, making it perfect for bonding sessions with kids. Mine love to dump in the ingredients, and they also help me pat the dough into the pan. It makes them nice and sticky. But by far, their favorite part is sprinkling those M&M’s® Holiday Baking Minis on top before baking. I mean, they get to eat as they sprinkle. I join them!
When we’re done baking, we let the bars cool, cut them into squares and pack them in Glad® Holiday Packaging containers. They’re so festive, and they let a whole batch of bars pack up tightly and efficiently.
All of my favorite holiday memories involve loved ones teaching me how to pass on traditions and skills to my own children, and I hope you feel the same way! For savings on great products like Quaker Oats, Glad®, and Mars as well as inspiration about making memories in baking, check this out!
M&M's® Holiday Caramel Oat Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 and 1/2 cups Quaker rolled oats
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling
1 package caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup M&M's® Holiday Baking Minis, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix again. Gradually add the oat mixture, beating each time until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Press half of the mixture (it will be sticky) into the prepared pan, using a spatula coated in cooking spray to create a thin, even layer of dough.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- While the bottom layer is baking, make the caramel filling. In a saucepan, melt the caramels and heavy cream over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth.
- When the bottom layer is out of the oven, sprinkle half of the M&M's® Holiday Baking Minis onto the base. Carefully and gently add the caramel and spread it over the surface of the bars. Take the remaining cookie dough and place it on top. It will not cover the entire surface, and that's okay. Just be as even as possible.
- Take the remaining M&M's® Holiday Baking Minis and sprinkle them over the top. Return the bars to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and nearly set.
- Cool the bars completely. Using a sharp knife, cut them into squares. Arrange the cooled bars in a Glad® Holiday Packaging container.
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https://justaboutbaked.com/mms-holiday-caramel-oat-bars/
These look delicious! And I so agree that it’s the simple things that are the best and make the biggest impact when you look back on your life 🙂
Sues recently posted…TAZO Egyptian Ruby Tea Cookies
Yep, I never realize it when the moments are happening, but then I look back and there they are!
These bars look fantastic, Mir! So fun and festive for the season! I love anything with caramel, and when you add in M&Ms, it’s taken to a whole new level. Love this!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…White Chocolate Fudge Pudding
Thanks, Gayle! I am all about thick caramel filling!
Mir, love this post and these BARS!!!!! so festive! and you are right! There’s much more to the holiday season than baking and buying gifts. . love that you are creating memories and reminiscing on old ones!! I also love baking with my kiddos and like you, hope that they remember these times with me when they are older!!! love this post!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls
It’s so funny because I try to make these happy memories for my kids, but I’ll never know which ones resonate until much later. Holidays are so much more fun with kids, though! We go all out decorating and having good times!
Memories are definitely worth cherishing, and it is so weird how they can come flooding back to memory at the most unexpected time. Around the holidays, I especially get sentimental and find my self reminiscing. I LOVE that you still have that little pink apron!!! So cute! Anyways, these bars are unbelievable! Oatmeal cookie dough, caramel and M&M’s sounds pretty gosh darn fantastic! Plus I know you KILL it in the bar department, so I’m willing to bet these babies are off the charts delish! SO GOOD! Cheers, doll!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Baked Goat Cheese & Honey Balsamic
Yes, memories are so powerful. If I can make my kids remember my bar cookies, I’ll be pretty happy!
You are the queen of the bars and these are so fun! I’ve been thinking about my grandparents lately too with all the baking I’ve been doing. That’s awesome that you made a pink apron with your gram and that you still have it. My gram made my prom dress one year and I still have it. Enjoy your babies – they grow up in the blink of an eye!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Peanut Butter, White Chocolate, and Cranberry Cookies
Wow, your prom dress? That’s crazy impressive. And the years are already speeding up, so I’ve gotta slow them down. My baby isn’t a baby anymore, not by a long shot. I miss those little baby cheeks!
You make the best bars Mir, these look absolutely delicious! I think M&M’s taste extra delicious in bars!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Peppermint Macarons
I agree, Manali! Though M & Ms are delicious everywhere. Especially with holiday colors!
I’m glad you have fun baking together with your kids Mir! Love your dessert bars! These are super cute!
mira recently posted…Garash Cake
We usually do, Mira. But sometimes the flour goes flying! 😉
Cookie bars are the BEST. All the flavor of a cookie, the quantity of a brownie, and the ease of dumping everything in an 8×8 without chilling, rolling, cutting, or making like 20 batches 🙂 Love these 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…No-Fuss Peanut Butter Vegan Brownie Sundae!
Oh, how I love the 8 x 8. And the bars. I’m too tired to roll anything!
I love these bar cookies, great for entertaining the masses.
Amy recently posted…Butter Scotch Candy
Thanks, Amy! The masses need cookies!
I completely agree about bars, they’re one of my favorite ways to enjoy dessert. These bars look so delicious and festive too! I love anything with caramel in it!
Danielle recently posted…Gingerbread Pancakes
Me too, Danielle. The caramel layer here is super thick!
It’s always so nice to look back on Christmas memories 🙂 Caramel AND M&Ms? Sounds good to me. These look amazing!
They go great together, Dannii!
These look so good, and I love the festive colored M&Ms! I know some lucky folks who are going to get these at my house this Christmas. 🙂
Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Roasted Vegetable Frittata
They’ll love you forever, Kate!
I love making memories with my kids too. I bet your grandma was happy to have you there. Such a sweet story. And I wish I could reach in and grab one of these bars! Sinful!
Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Mexican Wedding Cookies
Yeah, I wish my grandmothers were still around. But I learned a lot from them!
Mir – I agree that the memories are better than the gifts at the holidays. My grandparents used to take my sister, our two first cousins, and me on “Christmas Outings” to different places. We went to a bobsledding tournament in Lake Placid, Santa Land in NH, and the aquarium (to name a few). Even though we’re all grown up now, and some of us our having children (not me!), we continue to go out to dinner with my grandparents around the holidays, just the grandchildren. I hope that you have a Happy Hannukah and New Year. These cookies look delicious. 🙂
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Mint Chocolate Marshmallow Bars
Those family traditions are what make the holidays so special! I’m glad you have wonderful memories, too. Thanks, Erin!
These cookie bars look insanely delicious! That caramel layer… And yes, I share the same memories about grandma. She would always get up way early. For a kid on vacation at Grandma’s house, that was like the best thing ever since it meant an early start to the day. It also meant more time with Grandma. Thanks for the trip down memory lane there!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Wasabi Soy Party Mix
I think once moms start getting up early, it’s there for life. I’ll be an early riser when I’m a grandma too, thanks to my three kids!
These definitely do look like a great bar to make with kids. This is the exact kind of treat I love to make around the holidays. I’m going to get in a lot of trouble with these bars, just so you know. I love bars that have a oat cookie dough base like this. And caramels? I won’t be able to stop at one!
Amanda recently posted…Genoa Cake
The caramel filling is the best part, Amanda!
I can only hope that Jordan remembers happy things about me, and not that I’m crazy insane and stressed all the time, HA!!!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Thick and Fudgy Peppermint Mocha Brownies
She probably doesn’t even realize you’re stressed! I think kids are so oblivious.
Okay…I can’t keep up with you, lady! How’d I miss this one???? Gahhhh! That layer of caramel is killing me! And now – onto your story. I love everything about it. Everything. The memories of your grandmoms and the way you approach parenting. Beautiful, Mir. Thank you for sharing.
annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Comment on Holiday Cheese Board by Annie
Aww, thanks, Annie! I’m all about a layer of caramel. And memories are where it’s at this time of year!