FruitFast

What makes this date bar unusual is the orange flavor that blends so well with the tart cherries.  Adapted from a recipe on food.com, try adding your favorite addition like walnuts and coconut.  Serve with vanilla ice cream drizzled with FruitFast Liquid Mixed Berry or CherryFlex for a dynamite dessert duo.

Ingredients:

8 ounces     pitted dates, chopped
3/4 cup      orange juice, divided
1/2 cup       Brownwood Acres dried tart cherries, divided
1 Tbsp         orange zest (optional)
1 1/2 cups   quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups   all-purpose flour
1/3 cup        brown sugar, packed
1/4 tsp         baking soda
1/4 tsp         salt
1/3 cup        reduced-calorie butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp          honey

Directions:

Cook dates with 1/2 cup juice, in saucepan, 5 minute or until thickens.  Stir in remaining juice, 1/3 cup Brownwood Acres dried cherries, and orange peel. Combine sugar and honey in bowl.  Add oats flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in bowl.

Slowly add margarine until combined. Press 2/3 of oat mixture onto bottom of 8″ or 9″ square pan.  Spread date filling over crust.  Stir remaining 1/4 cup dried cherries into oat mixture.  Cover filling with crust.  Press down firmly.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until lightly brown.

Let cool and cut into squares.

Yield: 16 bars