Fruitful Party Squares Recipes

FESTIVE FRUITCAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. In large bowl, mix 1 cup flour, the brown sugar, butter, orange peel, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and egg with spoon.
• In medium bowl, mix 1/4 cup flour, the cherries, dates and pecans; stir into brown sugar mixture. Spread in pan.
• Bake about 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat all Orange Glaze ingredients over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly. Drizzle cooled bars with glaze. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 3 rows.

PARTY SQUARES

Steps:

• Melt butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish.
• Add the mini-mallows and microwave until smooth, stirring frequently.
• In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine the M&M's, Chex, and pretzels.
• Pour the mallow mixture over the Chex mixture, and stir to coat (will be a little messy and gooey!) Pour (or rather, plop) entire works into a 9x13 pan and spread it so it is even.
• I spray the pan with Pam so they're easier to remove later.
• Let cool, cut into squares, and enjoy!

FRUIT COCKTAIL SQUARES

Steps:

• Drain the fruit cocktail and reserve 1/3 cup of the syrup. Add the 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry syrup to the reserved fruit cocktail syrup. Chop the drained fruit, and set it aside.
• Stir together in a bowl the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
• Add the flour mixture, alternating with the syrups, to the creamed mixture. Mix well. Stir in the chopped fruit, the coconut and the cherries.
• Spread dough into a greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle sifted confectioners' sugar over the top if desired. Cut into squares.

EASY SIMNEL TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Soak all the dried fruit in the orange juice for 2 hrs, or overnight.
• Butter and line a 20 x 30cm tin with baking parchment. Heat oven to 160C/ 140C fan/gas 3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time; mix well between each addition.
• Sift the flour into the bowl and mix in the ground almonds and spices. Add the marzipan chunks, zest and dried fruit with any remaining juice, and give everything a good stir to combine.
• Tip the cake mix into the prepared tin, level the surface, and bake for 45 mins - the cake may still be a little gooey in the centre at this point. Remove from the oven and increase the heat to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6.
• Make the topping. Rub the butter, sugar and flour together with your fingers to a crumbly breadcrumb texture. Grate in 200g reserved marzipan, add the flaked almonds and golden syrup. Mix everything with a fork, making sure it stays crumbly and doesn't clump. Sprinkle over the cake and return to the oven for 12-15 mins. Meanwhile, divide the rest of the marzipan into 11 and roll into balls.
• Remove the cake from the oven once cooked through, arrange the marzipan balls on top and allow to cool in the tin. Mix the icing sugar with enough orange juice to give a runny icing, drizzle it all over the cake, then let it set a little before slicing it.

CANDIED-FRUIT SQUARES

Steps:

• Once the flour is incorporated according to dough recipe, beat in citron and cherries. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Shape each into a 10-inch-long square-shaped log. Wrap in parchment. Refrigerate until very firm, about 2 hours.
• Slice dough crosswise slightly thicker than 1/8 inch. Reshape if needed. Bake at 350 degrees on parchment-lined baking sheets until firm, 12 to 14 minutes.

FRUITFUL PARTY SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly spray a 9x13-in. (3-L) baking dish with oil. Place raisins, chocolate chips, almonds and cherries in a bowl. Measure out flour. Remove 2 tbsp (30 mL) flour and stir into raisin mixture.
• In a small bowl, stir remaining flour with baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, beat butter with sugar until mixed, 2 minute Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture until evenly mixed. Using a wooden spoon, stir in raisin mixture until evenly distributed. Turn into prepared dish. Smooth top.
• Bake in centre of oven until top turns golden, 35 to 40 minute Remove to a wire rack and cool completely, then cut into squares. (They will be easier to cut if refrigerated overnight first.)
• If making ahead, store in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 2 months.