Cranberry & Caramel Date Bars

By draingal

Ingredients

• 1 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup plus 2 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 margarine or butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups SUNSWEET® Dates, chopped
• 3/4 cup chopped DIAMOND® Walnuts, toasted
• 1 cup caramel ice cream topping

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°F. In bowl, combine cranberries and 2 tablespoons sugar. In bowl, combine 2 cups flour, oats, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and soda. Add margarine; mix well. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture; press remainder firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle dates, walnuts and cranberry mixture over crust. Mix caramel topping and remaining 1/3 cup flour; spoon over fruit and walnuts. Top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool. Cut into bars. (Makes 24 bars)