Baking: Cakes, Cookies, Muffins: Bartlett Pear Orange Bar Cookies

Pears in the middle layer of the easy-to-do-bar cookies are a fruity surprise!

Author: Pear Bureau Northwest - www.usapears.com
Date: April 09, 2013

Serves: 24 person(s)
Yield: 24 x bars

Preparation Time: 30 mins
Cooking Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

3 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
6 Northwest Bartlett pears (or other seasonal pears), pared and sliced
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 cup sifted powdered sugar (for glaze)
3/4 tsp vanilla (for glaze)
2 Tbsp orange juice or milk (for glaze)

Directions:

PEAR BARS: Combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Stir in about 1/2 cup milk, one tablespoon at a time, until all flour is moistened.

Divide dough in half. Roll out half dough to 17 x 12-inch rectangle. Carefully place in 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Arrange pear slices over crumbs. Combine sugar and orange peel; sprinkle over pear slices.

Roll out remaining dough to 15 x 10-inch rectangle and place on top of pears; seal and flute edges. Cut several steam vents in top of crust. Brush top of pastry with milk. Bake at 375°F for 45 to 55 minutes or until pastry is golden. Brush with Orange Glaze while warm.

ORANGE GLAZE: Combine sifted powdered sugar, vanilla and orange juice (or milk); stir until smooth. Makes 1/3 cup.

Variations:

Slice smaller for a lower-calorie treat (24 to 30 bars).