Winning Cranberry Date Bars

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
Yield 4 dozen
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
I enjoy making these bars when cranberry season arrives. The recipe is very easy to put together, which is perfect for a busy parent like me. —Richard Grams, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1 package (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 package (8 ounces) chopped dates
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • ORANGE GLAZE:
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine cranberries and dates. Cover and cook over low heat until berries pop, 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter until crumbly. Press half into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 8 minutes. Spoon cranberry mixture over the crust; spread gently. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture; pat down gently.
  3. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over top. Cut into bars.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 128 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 58mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.

I enjoy making these bars when cranberry season arrives. The recipe is very easy to put together, which is perfect for a busy parent like me. —Richard Grams, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

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