Recipe: Cranberry Date Bars

We have been wanting to share recipes from our staff for awhile now, and finally got the opportunity when Laurie brought in these little pieces of melt-in-your-mouth-goodness, otherwise known as Cranberry Date Bars. 

Let us tell you, as each of us performed individual quality assurance tests on them, they are quite delicious! So much so, that there weren't any left at the end of the day.

Made by Laurie.

Filling

• 12 oz. cranberries (rinsed)
• 8 oz. chopped dates
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/4 cup of sugar

Cook berries and dates in a 2 quart saucepan with a 1/4 sugar stirring frequently to avoid scorching, until berries pop.Add vanilla and set aside to let cool.

Crust

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 cups of old fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup melted butter or margarine

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and mix. Add melted butter and mix well. Place 1/2 crust mixture into a 9" x 13" pan and pat down evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Spread filling over crust carefully. Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture evenly and pat down. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes and let cool.

Orange Glaze

• 2 cups of powered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 to 3 tbsp. orange juice

Combine all ingredients using just enough juice to drizzle over the top. Cut into bars and it's ready to serve!

These are sure to be a big hit for a potluck or dinner party!

Have a recipe you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!