Recipe By: Woman’s Day December 1964
Preparation Time: 2:00
Ingredients:
3 cups flour — unsifted
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter — softened
2 1/4 cups light brown sugar —
packed
3 eggs
3 tablespoons orange rind — grated
3/8 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups dates — pitted &
chopped
2 1/4 cups walnuts — coarsely
chopped
Orange Butter Frosting:
3/4 cup butter — softened
1 tablespoon orange rind —
grated
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
6 cups confectioner’s
sugar — sifted
2 tablespoons orange juice
3/4 cup walnuts — finely
chopped
Directions:
Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into bowl. Cream butter and brown sugar until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in egg, orange rind and juice. Beat in flour mixture, blending until smooth. Stir in dates and walnuts. Spread evenly in 2 greased and floured 9 x 13″ baking pans. Bake in moderaate oven (350F.) 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned. When cool, spread with Orange Butter Frosting. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts. Cut in bars.
Orange Butter Frosting: Cream butter until fluffy. Add orange rind, egg yolk and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating well. Mix in orange juice, enough to make frosting of spreading consistency.
Makes 5 dozen. Steve’s favorite.