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Tennessee Whiskey Fruit and Nut Bars

Source of Recipe


From "The Deen Bros. Cookbook" by Jamie and Bobby Deen



List of Ingredients



• -- Bars --
  
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  
• ¾ tsp baking powder
  
• ¼ tsp salt
  
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
  
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  
• 1½ tsp vanilla
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1/3 cup Tennessee whiskey
  
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  
• ½ cup golden raisins, candied ginger, dried cherries, or a combination
  
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
  
• .
  
• -- Frosting --
  
• 3½ cups confectioners' sugar
  
• 6 Tbsp butter, softened
  
• 3 Tbsp Tennessee whiskey
  
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 24 pecan halves (optional)
  






Instructions



1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9- x 13-inch baking pan; set aside.
   
   
2. For the bars:
   In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, cream together the 2/3 cup butter, the brown sugar, and 1½ teaspoons vanilla until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Alternately add the flour mixture and the 1/3 cup whiskey in three additions, mixing until fully combined after each addition. Fold in chopped nuts, the raisins, and chocolate chips. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let bars cool in the pan on a wire rack.
   
   
3. For the frosting:
   In a large bowl, beat together the confectioners' sugar, the 6 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons whiskey, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Add additional whiskey, if necessary, to make a frosting of spreadable consistency. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and, if desired, top each square with a pecan half.
   
   Makes 24 bars.