Date Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pitted dates
• 1 cup raisins
• 4 ounces walnuts
• 1 teaspoon orange peel, grated
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• powdered sugar

Recipe

• 1 put dates, raisins and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chopped. i have done this by hand also.
• 2 stir in the cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar, set aside.
• 3 cream the butter, vanilla and the remaining 1/2 c sugar until light and fluffy. beat in the eggs one at a time.
• 4 stir in flour, baking powder, salt and orange juice.
• 5 add the date mizture and stir only until blended. the dough will be very stiff.
• 6 shape the dough into four logs, about 12"x2"x1/2".
• 7 i always make these well in advance and freeze them raw ('cause freshly baked tastes best). to do this shape the logs on a wax paper lined baking sheet. place them in the freezer until they are firm, then pop into a baggie, tupperware or whatever. baking directions are the same either way.
• 8 bake the logs on baking paper or lightly greased foil at 375 degrees f for 15 minutes. start checking at 12 minutes as ovens vary quite a bit. they will seem soft and and underdone, don't overbake. dool 15 minutes, then cut diagonally into 3/4 inch bars. duat with confectioners sugar while warm. they will be firmer when cool.