Fruit & Nut Bars

Recipe adapted from joyofbaking.com

Ingredients

• 2 cups assorted dried fruit (raisins, dates, dried cherries, etc.)
• 1 ½ cups chopped unsalted nuts of your choice
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 large egg whites
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and place rack in center of oven. Place foil in the bottom of an 8” square pan. 

In large bowl, combine the chopped nuts with the dried fruits and chocolate chips. Add the flour, baking soda and brown sugar, stirring until all the fruit and nuts are completely coated with the flour mixture. Make sure to separate any clumps of dried fruits.

In a separate bowl beat (with a wire whisk or hand mixer) the egg whites and vanilla until thick. Add the egg mixture to the fruit and nut mixture and mix until all the fruit and nut pieces are completely coated with the batter.  Evenly spread into prepared pan, pressing to compact the batter.

Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until the batter is golden brown and is just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Lift the bars from the pan using the edges of the foil. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares or bars. 

Can be stored for about 10 days at room temperature or longer if refrigerated.

Yield: 18 – 2 ½” rectangular bars (1 serving = 1 bar)