Cranberry Cocoa Date Squares Recipes

CRANBERRY DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°
• Line an 8" square baking pan with parchment paper, or spray with cooking spray
• In a saucepan, combine dates, cranberries, lemon juice and water.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened, stirring often, about 15 minutes, stirring often
• Set aside to cool
• In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, almond flour, brown sugar, and salt
• With a pastry blender, cut in cubed butter, until a crumbly dough is formed
• Firmly press half of the dough into prepared pan
• Spread cooled filling evenly over the crust
• Sprinkle the remaining dough mixture over the filling, pressing to firm it
• Bake in center of oven until golden, about 45 minutes
• Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares

CRANBERRY DATE BARS

Steps:

• 1. In a saucepan, over low heat, simmer cranberries, dates, and water for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and set aside.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir in butter until well blended.
• 3. Pat half the oat mixture into an ungreased 13"x9"x2" baking pan. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Spoon cranberry mixture over crust. Sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture. Pat gently.
• 4. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes or until browned. Cool.
• 5. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over bars. Yield: 3 dozen bars.
• 6. You might want sometimes to serve bar cookies with ice cream. Not so with these! They're so yummy by themselves that nothing else is needed except, maybe, a good cup of coffee.
• 7. Susan uses only half the glaze recipe, but I LOVE confectioners' sugar, so I use all of it!

CRANBERRY DATE BARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine cranberries and dates.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes or until berries pop, stirring often. (I also mash the cranberries with a fork once they are soft enough and reach the about-to-pop stage).
• Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla; set aside.
• In a bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking soda and salt.
• Stir in butter until crumbly.
• Press half into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan.
• Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Spoon cranberry mixture over the crust; spread gently. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture;pat down gently.
• Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.
• Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over bars.
• Yield: 4 dozen.

CRANBERRY AND CARAMEL DATE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350°F.
• In bowl, combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons sugar.
• In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour,oats,remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and soda.
• Add butter and mmx well (pastry blender works well).
• Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture.
• Press remainder firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle dates, walnuts and cranberry mixture over crust.
• Mix caramel topping and remaining 1/3 cup flour; Spoon over fruit and walnuts.
• Top with reserved crumb mixture.
• Bake 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Cool.
• Cut into bars.

CRANBERRY DATE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place cranberries, dates and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until berries pop, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla., Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt; stir in melted butter. Press half of the mixture into an ungreased 13x9-in. pan. Bake 8 minutes. , Spoon cranberry mixture over crust. Sprinkle with remaining oat mixture; pat down gently. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes longer. Cool completely on a wire rack., Mix glaze ingredients. Drizzle over top.