Amaretto Cranberry Bars With Orange Glaze

Photo: The Duo Dishes

Ingredients

Crust

3 1/4 cups walnuts

1 teaspoon port wine

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 cup brown sugar

Cake

3/4 cup Jiffy Cornbread Mix

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, unsalted

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup amaretto

1 cup whole dried cranberries

Glaze

2 eggs

2 tablespoons flour

Zest of 1 lemon

4 tablespoons orange juice

2 teaspoons orange zest

1/8 teaspoon salt

Icing

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon orange zest

Juice of 1 orange

cup milk*

Preparation

Crust

Chop nuts roughly in food processor. Add wine. Transfer to large bowl, mixing in remaining ingredients until well combined.

Press nut mixture flat at the bottom of your lightly greased 9½ x 13 baking pan. (If you want to use a jelly-roll pan, double the ingredients for the crust and cake to ensure you have enough to fill the whole pan–parchment paper works great too, especially when using a jelly-roll pan).

Bake crust in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes, being careful not to burn the nuts. Set aside and let crust cool.

Cake

Mix first four ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

In a larger bowl, cream together butter and sugar, adding in the eggs and mixing until light and fluffy (about 4 minutes). Add amaretto.

Gradually mix in dry ingredients until everything is well incorporated. Toss in cranberries.

Evenly spread cake batter over the cooked walnut crust. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. (Cake will not be fully cooked.) Carefully set aside and let cool completely.

Glaze

While cake bakes, beat all ingredients on medium speed for 5 minutes.

Brush evenly over cake and bake for a remaining 10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in middle of pan.

Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.

Icing

Whip together all ingredients until frosting forms, about 5 minutes.

When ready to serve, slice cake into bars and drizzle icing over each piece. Top with chopped walnuts and dried cranberries.

If you have champagne or sparkling wine, substitute for milk for an extra delight.)