Orange Date Bars

Chewy Orange Date Bars

You can have these Orange Date Bars all prepared and into the oven in about 15 minutes.

Why so quickly?

This easy cookie bar recipe starts with a yellow cake mix, so there's very few ingredients and very little measuring to be done.

As a result, you save time and get a tasty dessert that is perfect for sharing during the holidays or anytime the mood strikes for a wonderfully simple fruity and chewy homemade treat.

Believe it or not, you'll actually have to wait longer for them to cool before cutting than it takes to mix and bake them!

You can easily dress these bars up a bit by dusting them with powdered sugar after they've cooled completely, or serve them as is - we think they're yummy either way.

Orange Date Bars

Orange Date Bars Recipe

1 box (1 lb. 2.25 oz.) Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Yellow Cake Mix
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
3 eggs
2 cups chopped dates
2 cups chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F degrees (325F degrees for dark or nonstick baking pan). Spray 15x10-inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.
In a large mixing bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, beat cake mix, oats, butter, orange peel and eggs about 1 minute, or until batter is thick.
Stir in dates and walnuts.
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
Bake about 22 to 26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and set pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
After about 10 minutes, run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars and continue to cool completely.
Cut cooled bars into desired size and shape.
Sprinkle tops of bars with powdered sugar if desired.

This cookie bar recipe makes one 15x10-inch pan of Orange Date Bars.