Third Day of Christmas: Date, Fig or Prune Bars

Date, Fig or Prune Bars

These bars add variety to your collection for serving and gift giving during the holiday season. Try making all three kinds using dried fruits that are so readily available to us in grocery stores during the winter months. You will find yourself making these squares throughout the winter months. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

1 cup sugar 250 ml

3 eggs

7/8 cup unbleached all purpose flour 220 ml

1 tsp baking powder 4 ml

pinch salt

1/4 tsp each cloves & cinnamon 1 ml

1/2 tsp allspice 2 ml

2 cups chopped dates, figs or prunes 500 ml

1 cup chopped walnuts 250 ml

Grease and flour a 9 x 13 baking pan and set aside. In a mixing bowl, mix 3 eggs, one at a time while slowly adding sugar. Add vanilla to the liquid blend. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture. Beat by hand the ingredients until they are very well blended. Add the dates, figs or prunes along with chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven,let cool, cut into bars and dust with confectioner's sugar.