Frosted Orange Date Bars

Luxuriously moist, old-fashioned date bars accented with orange peel and a buttery orange frosting.

• Preparation Time: 40 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 123 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ cup water
• ⅓ cup butter, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2 ½ tablespoons orange juice
• 1 (8 ounce) package chopped pitted dates

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.

Step 2

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, 1/2 cup butter, water and dates. Cook, stirring frequently until dates have softened and the mixture is well blended. Remove from heat. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the date mixture, then mix in the 1/4 cup orange juice, milk, eggs and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Step 3

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. To make the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup butter, cream cheese and orange zest. Beat until smooth. Gradually mix in the remaining orange juice a tablespoon at a time until the icing is spreadable. Spread over the bars when cool. Cut into squares.