Fruitcake Bar Cookies

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon rum extract or 1 teaspoon brandy extract
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 8 ounces pitted dates, chopped
• 1/4 cup candied fruit, chopped
• 1/2 cup candied red cherries, quartered
• 3/4 cup pecans or 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• candied cherry, for garnish (red and green)
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk (more if necessary)

1. Preheat oven to 375u0b0F.
2. Grease and flour a 13x9x2-inch pan. (Or spray with nonfat cooking spray).
3. In a small bowl, blend flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and eggs at medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in rum or brandy extract.
5. Stir in flour, dates, candied fruits, 1/2 cup cherries and nuts. Spread in prepared pan and bake 30 minutes until golden. Cool on wire rack, in pan.
6. In the meantime, prepare the frosting by mixing together sugar and milk. Stir until smooth; then cover with a damp cloth until ready to use.
7. When cake has cooled, frost, suing a spatula.
8. Cut into 2 x 1-inch bars and decorate with red and green candied cherries. Store in a covered container, with pieces of wax paper between layers.

flour, salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, rum, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, dates, candied fruit, candied red cherries, pecans, candied cherry, confectioners, milk

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/fruitcake-bar-cookies-193881 (may not work)