Tangy-Chewy Fruit Bars
Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
Serves: 16
Ingredients
CRUST
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1⁄2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1⁄4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
TOPPING
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 cup sugar
- 1⁄2 cup half-and-half
- 1 1⁄2 cups dried fruit, of your choice cut in 1/4-inch pieces if large
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F Lightly grease a 9"x9" pan.
- TO PREPARE CRUST:.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- Add the flour, scraping the bowl and mixing until everything is well combined.
- Press the crust into the bottom of the prepared pan, and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until lightly browned.
- TO PREPARE TOPPING:.
- Melt the butter with the salt, sugar, and half and half. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the fruit and nuts. Spread the topping over the baked crust.
- Bake the bars for 14-16 minutes, until the crust is starting to brown (you should be able to see just the edge of it), and the fruit mixture is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, use a bench knife or table knife to loosen the edges of the bars from the pan. Don't wait too long, or they'll be really stuck.
- Cut the bars when completely cool.
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