Cranberry and Caramel Date Bars

These are really delicious, a real treat. I have made them several times since finding the recipe in a newspaper.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 24 Bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup cranberries
• 10  tablespoons sugar
• 2 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2  cups oats
• 1⁄2 cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup butter or 1  cup margarine, melted
• 1 1⁄2 cups dates, chopped
• 3⁄4 cup walnuts, toasted
• 1  cup  caramel ice cream topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven 350°F.
2. In bowl, combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons sugar.
3. In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour,oats,remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and soda.
4. Add butter and mmx well (pastry blender works well).
5. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture.
6. Press remainder firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan.
7. Bake 15 minutes.
8. Sprinkle dates, walnuts and cranberry mixture over crust.
9. Mix caramel topping and remaining 1/3 cup flour; Spoon over fruit and walnuts.
10. Top with reserved crumb mixture.
11. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
12. Cool.
13. Cut into bars.