Apple-Date Bars

The butter contributes to the golden crust of the dense, moist fruit-studded bars. You can use walnuts instead of pecans, or substitute raisins for the dates.

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 bar)

Ingredients

• 2  cups  all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 2  cups  sugar
• 7  tablespoons  butter, softened
• 1  large egg
• 2  large egg whites
• 1/4  cup  applesauce
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1  cup  chopped pitted dates
• 1  teaspoon  all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  cups  chopped peeled Granny Smith apple (about 1 large)
• 1 1/2  cups  chopped peeled Red Delicious apple (about 1 large)
• 1/2  teaspoon  fresh lemon juice
• 2/3  cup  chopped pecans
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°.

Lightly spoon 2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Set aside.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at high speed for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add egg and egg whites, beating well after each addition. Stir in applesauce and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture; stir just until combined to form a stiff batter. Toss dates with 1 teaspoon flour. Toss apples with juice. Add dates, apples, and nuts to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Pour batter into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

279 (29% from fat)

Fat:

9g (sat 3.6g,mono 3.4g,poly 1.4g)

Protein:

3.3g

Carbohydrate:

48.5g

Fiber:

2g

Cholesterol:

26mg

Iron:

1.1mg

Sodium:

193mg

Calcium:

33mg