Fruit And Nut Bars

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped (can also use pecans , hazelnuts, or almonds)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups dates (pits removed and cut into quarters can also use figs, or prunes)
• 1 cup dried apricot, cut into bite size pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325 degrees f (160 degrees c) and place the rack in the center of the oven.
• 2 have ready an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) square baking pan that has been lined across the bottom and up the two opposite sides with aluminum foil. set aside. 9x9 is ok.
• 3 in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• 4 stir in the brown sugar, walnuts, and dried fruit. use your fingers to make sure that all the fruit and nuts have been coated with the flour mixture.
• 5 in a separate bowl, beat (with a wire whisk or hand mixer) the egg and vanilla until light colored and thick (this will take several minutes).
• 6 add the egg mixture to the fruit and nut mixture and mix until all the fruit and nut pieces are coated with the batter.
• 7 spread into the prepared pan, pressing to even it out.
• 8 bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the batter is golden brown and has pulled away from the sides of the pan.
• 9 remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. when cooled, lift the bars from the pan by the edges of the aluminum foil. use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares.