Recipe - Cranberry-Date Crumb Bars

1 One half cup Cranberries
1 cup Pitted dates; chopped
2 tablespoon Water
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 cup Allpurpose flour
1 cup Quickcooking oats
2/3 cup Brown sugar; packed
One fourth teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon Baking soda
One half cup Butter or margarine; melted
Orange Icing; recipe follows

1. For Filling, combine cranberries, dates, and water in a medium saucepan.
Cook, covered, over low heat for 12 minutes or till cranberries pop,
stirring frequently. Stir in vanilla. Cool slightly.

2. For Crust, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking
soda in a mixing bowl. Stir in melted butter or margarine till thoroughly
combined. Set aside 1 cup of the oat mixture for topping. Press remaining
oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9 x 9 x 2inch baking pan. Bake
in a 350 degree oven for 12 minutes.

3. Carefully spread filling on top of baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved
oat mixture, lightly pressing oat mixture into filling. Bake for 20 to 25
minutes more or till topping is set. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Drizzle
with Orange Icing. Cut into bars.

4. Orange Icing: Combine One half cup sifted powdered sugar and One half teaspoon
finely shredded orange peel in a small bowl. Stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons
orange juice till icing is of drizzling consistency.

NOTES : Pop a bag of cranberries into the freezer so you can bake up a
batch of these bars even after cranberry season ends.
Recipe by: Better Homes Christmas Cookies 1997

Posted to recipeludigest by "Marie Smith" craftee@sprynet.com on Feb 6,
1998