Bartlett Pear Orange Bar Cookies
Pears in the middle layer of the easy-to-do-bar cookies are a fruity surprise!
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).