Utah Fruit Bars

DEAR SOS: We purchased marvelous fruit bars at the specialty shop attached to the Sundance restaurant in Sundance, Utah, and would love to be able to bake them for family and friends. Could you possibly get the recipe?

JOAN

DEAR JOAN: Missy Larsen of the Sundance sent this recipe for you and others to enjoy. We did.

SUNDANCE FRUIT BARS

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (1/2-inch) diced dates

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons orange juice

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed

3/4 cup coconut

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon oats

1 cup (2 sticks) plus 1 tablespoon butter

Combine dates and orange juice in saucepan and cook over medium heat until juice is reduced and dates are soft, about 15 minutes.

Mix together flour, salt, brown sugar, coconut, walnuts and oats. Cut butter into flour mixture to form coarse meal. Do not over-mix.

Press 1/2 mixture into bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Spread date mixture on top of crust in pan. Sprinkle remaining flour mixture over date mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until top crust is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool. Cut into bars to serve.

15 bars. Each bar:

354 calories; 178 mg sodium; 35 mg cholesterol; 19 grams fat; 46 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams protein; 1.14 grams fiber.