Fruit 'n' Nut Spice Bars Recipe

Fruit 'n' Nut Spice Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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I'm always looking for new dessert recipes, and this one combines several of my favorite flavors.

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Fruit 'n' Nut Spice Bars Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling

Yield: 48 Servings

15 30 45

Ingredients

3/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup honey
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips
1-1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a small bowl, toss cherries with 1/4 cup flour; set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and honey. Combine the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining flour; add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts, chocolate chips and reserved cherries.
Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth; drizzle over warm bars. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Yield: 4 dozen.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 each) equals 135 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 15 mg cholesterol, 102 mg sodium, 20 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein.

Originally published as Fruit 'n' Nut Spice Bars in Country October/November 2003, p51