Frosted Orange Date Bars

Ingredients

• 0.75 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup butter, softened
• 0.5 cup water
• 1 (8 ounce) package chopped pitted dates
• 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup orange juice
• 0.75 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 2.5 tablespoons orange juice

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10×15 inch jellyroll pan.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, 1/2 cup butter, water and dates. Cook, stirring frequently until dates have softened and the mixture is well blended. Remove from heat. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the date mixture, then mix in the 1/4 cup orange juice, milk, eggs and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. To make the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, 1/3 cup butter, cream cheese and orange zest. Beat until smooth. Gradually mix in the remaining orange juice a tablespoon at a time until the icing is spreadable. Spread over the bars when cool. Cut into squares.