Wholesome and festive, these gingerbread oat bars have twice the ginger flavor with the addition of finely chopped crystallized ginger in the reduced-fat cream cheese frosting.

Double Ginger Oat Bars

8 tablespoons (1 stick) light butter or regular butter - divided use
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 (14.5-ounce) package gingerbread cake and cookie mix
1 1/4 cups Quaker® oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/3 cup water
1 large egg
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Red and green decorator’s icing (optional)

1. For bars, heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. In large saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter over low heat. Remove from heat. Add brown sugar; stir with wooden spoon until well blended. Add gingerbread mix, oats, water and egg; stir until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 to 33 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool bars completely in pan on wire rack.**
4. For frosting, beat cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons butter with electric mixer in medium bowl until blended. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth. Beat in ginger.
5. Spread frosting evenly over bars. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cut and decorate.
6. To decorate, cut into bars and remove from pan. Using red and green frosting, pipe ribbons, holly leaves and berries or other decorations onto each bar. Refrigerate uncovered until decorations set, then cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Makes 20 (5-inch) cookies.

*If desired, 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract may be substituted for ginger in frosting.

**If desired, at this point bars can be frozen covered up to 2 months. Let thaw at room temperature, about 30 minutes. Proceed as directed in Steps 4, 5 and 6.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 bar made with light butter): Calories 100, Calories From Fat 25, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 100mg, Total Carbohydrates 17g, Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 11g, Protein 1g.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of The Quaker Oat Company.