Date Nut Dream Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
• 1 cup candied cherry, quartered
• 1/2 cup dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups icing sugar

Recipe

• 1 line a 9" x 13" metal cake pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• 2 in a bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and salt until fluffy.
• 3 using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour.
• 4 press into the prepared pan and bake in the centre of a 350 degree f oven until golden, about 20 minutes.
• 5 let cool in the pan on a rack.
• 6 to make the filling, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar and almond extract in a bowl.
• 7 stir in the flour and baking powder until smooth.
• 8 stir in the walnuts, cherries and dates.
• 9 spread over the cooled base and bake in the centre of a 350 degree f oven until firm to the touch, about 20 minutes.
• 10 let cool completely in the pan on a rack.
• 11 to make the icing, beat together in a bowl the butter, milk and vanilla until creamy.
• 12 add half of the icing sugar and beat just until combined.
• 13 beat in the remaining icing sugar until light and fluffy.
• 14 spread over the filling.
• 15 refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.