These chewy bars are great
for dunking into a hot mug of tea of coffee. Chock full of luscious
fruit and nuts these treats have just a touch of brandy and vanilla
to enrich the flavor.
Old-Fashioned
Fruit Bars
1 cup hot water
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup dried fruit
2 tablespoons brandy
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - divided use
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup nuts, chopped
1/4 cup granulated sugar
In a bowl combine water,
raisins, dried fruits and brandy or orange juice; set aside to
soak.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray or cover with parchment
paper.
In another bowl with an
electric mixer on medium speed, mix together the 3/4 cup sugar,
brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy.
Add flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon (reserve 1 teaspoon) and baking
soda; mix well.
Drain fruit thoroughly
and add to batter with chopped nuts.
Moisten your hands and
form the dough into two long rolls on the cookie sheet. Mix 1/4
cup sugar with remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl;
sprinkle tops of logs generously with mixture.
Bake 15 minutes, or until
golden brown. Cool 15 minutes then slice the logs into 1/2-inch
wide bars. Return cookie sheet to oven and bake 5 additional
minutes. Turn off the heat and allow cookies to remain in the
oven for several hours.
Makes 36 bars.
Note: These bars must cool gradually
in the oven for 3 hours after baking.
