Macadamia Sunshine Bars

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling
Yield 2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
Your guests will be delighted with my bars. They are packed with nuts and dried fruit. I think that when you take a bite of this treat it’s like a mini-vacation to a Polynesian paradise. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Ingredients

  • 1 package lemon cake mix (regular size)
  • 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 4-1/2 teaspoons thawed pineapple-orange juice concentrate
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 jars (3 ounces each) macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
  • 2/3 cup coarsely chopped shelled pistachios
  • 2/3 cup chopped dried pineapple
  • 2/3 cup chopped dried mangoes
  • 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
  • GLAZE:
  • 1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons thawed pineapple-orange juice concentrate
  • 4 to 5 teaspoons water

Directions

  1. In large bowl, combine the cake mix, brown sugar and spice powder. Add the butter, eggs, juice concentrate, zests and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the nuts, dried fruits and coconut.
  2. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  3. Combine the confectioners' sugar, juice concentrate and enough water to reach desired consistency; drizzle over top. Cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 290 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 33mg cholesterol, 244mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (28g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Your guests will be delighted with my bars. They are packed with nuts and dried fruit. I think that when you take a bite of this treat it’s like a mini-vacation to a Polynesian paradise. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Recipe Creator

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