GRANDPA'S FRUIT BARS

Grandpa's Fruit Bars image

Provided by Marialisa Calta

Time 50m

Yield 75 squares

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

3/4 cups raisins
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 whole egg
1 egg, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Grated peel of 1/2 orange
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon water

Steps:

In a small bowl, combine the raisins, dates and liqueur. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter or margarine, the two sugars, the whole egg, the egg white and the vanilla extract until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, if using, flour and baking soda until thoroughly blended. Add the nuts and the macerated fruit. The dough will be sticky.
Using well-floured hands or the back of a spoon, press the dough into a foil-lined, 10-by-15-inch jellyroll pan.
Mix the yolk and the water. Using a pastry brush, brush the dough with the egg wash.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the dough is light golden. Cool 10 minutes, then cut into 1-by-2-inch bars.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 54, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 11 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 0 grams