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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    Published on December 15, 2019 - Updated on January 12, 2023 by Chef Rodney - 5 Comments - This post may contain affiliate links.

    788 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    These Frosty Fruit Bars are a knockoff of the popular Christmas Fruit Cake but so much better! The flavor of these bars is absolutely amazing
     
    Frosty Fruit Bars

    My wife's Grandpa George used to make these Frosty Fruit Bars for the Holidays. I was fortunate enough to get a hold of the handwritten recipe so I could share it with all of you. This is the same George that gave me his Beer Batter Onion Ring recipe.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    Candied fruit is what you typically find in a Christmas Fruit Cake. Depending on where you live you might have a hard time finding some. I had to hit a few grocery stores to find enough to make this recipe.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    When I first got my hands on the handwritten recipe card, I asked if these were cookies or bars or what. You can make them however you want actually. You make them in the shape of a bar or a biscotti or whatever floats your boat.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    🥜 Nut Allergies

    This recipe may contain peanuts or other nuts and seeds as one of its ingredients. Please take the appropriate precautions.

    💭 Recipe Tip

    Don't you hate it when raisins get stuck together in a big clump? To unstick the raisins, wet your hands with a little water then work the raisins apart.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    For more delicious cookie recipes, make sure you check out my Cookie Jar. My Christmas Wreath Cookies is another festive cookie recipe for the Holidays.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    The nutritional information provided on the recipe card may vary depending on how big you cut them. It also includes mixed nuts. If you decide not to use nuts, the nutritional information will vary.

    My wife prefers to make cookies with the batter instead of bars. She also prefers to make them without the frosting. I can't argue with you, this recipe does indeed make good cookies!

    frosty fruit cookies

    For another delicious and easy-to-make dessert that your family will love, give my Old School Peach Cobbler recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

    frosty fruit cookies

    For more great recipes with Orange Juice, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • Easy Carne Asada
    • Grilled Pork Chops with Orange Sauce
    • Classic Tequila Sunrise
    • Cranberry Sauce with Whiskey

    📋 What Ingredients do I need

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Frosty Fruit Bars recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Unsalted Butter, White Sugar, Egg, Orange Zest, Orange Juice, All Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Raisins, Candied Fruit, Mixed Nuts, Milk, Vanilla Extract and Powdered Sugar.

    🥣 How do I Make Frosty Fruit Bars

    In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add Egg and orange zest and mix well. Stir in orange juice.
    Sift the All Purpose Flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg. Add to the butter mixture and mix until well combined.
    Fold in raisins, candied fruit and nuts.
    Divide dough in half. Roll out each half on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle approximately 7 x 12. Cut the dough into 2 x 7 inch strips for a total of 12 strips.
    Preheat oven to 400°F.
    Bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly brown.
    In a small bowl, combine all frosting ingredients and mix until you reach the desired consistency.
    While warm spread icing and decorate with candied fruit (if desired). Cut baked strips into desired lengths.

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    Frosty Fruit Bars

    These Frosty Fruit Bars are a knockoff of the popular Christmas Fruit Cake but so much better! The flavor of these bars is absolutely amazing
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 27 mins
    Course Cookies, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 190 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • ½ cup Unsalted Butter, softened
    • 1 cup White Sugar
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 tbs Orange Zest
    • ¼ cup Orange Juice
    • 2 ½ cups All Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
    • 1 cup Raisins
    • 1 cup Candied Fruit, mixed
    • ½ Mixed Nuts, optional

    Frosting

    • 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter, Melted
    • 2 tablespoon Milk
    • ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
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    Instructions
     

    • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add Egg and orange zest and mix well. Stir in orange juice.
    • Sift the All Purpose Flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg. Add to the butter mixture and mix until well combined.
    • Fold in raisins, candied fruit and nuts.
    • Divide dough in half. Roll out each half on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle approximately 7 x 12. Cut the dough into 2 x 7 inch strips for a total of 12 strips.
    • Preheat oven to 400°F.
    • Bake on lightly greased baking sheet 10 to 12 minutes until lightly brown.

    Make the Frosting

    • In a small bowl, combine all frosting ingredients and mix until you reach the desired consistency.
    • While warm spread icing and decorate with candied fruit (if desired). Cut baked strips into desired lengths.

    Notes

    → If raisins or candied fruit are dry, rinse well with hot water. Drain well before using otherwise the dough will become sticky and hard to handle.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 106mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Dessert Recipes

    • Copycat McDonald’s Hot Apple Pies
    • Easy Cinnamon Apple Cobbler
    • Sucre à la Creme
    • Easy Strawberry Crisp
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    Reader Interactions

    5 Comments

    1. Lexi

      December 23, 2021 at 7:16 am

      I was trying to find my my grandmother's recipe match and used yours to send out as Christmas presents. Everyone that received them reached out and loved them! My family also raved and asked to make sure to make the again. Thank you! Grandma would be proud!

      Reply
      • Chef Rodney

        December 23, 2021 at 10:14 am

        Glad everyone enjoyed them!

        Reply
    2. Carol

      December 01, 2022 at 11:44 am

      My mom, and now I, have been making these cookies since the early 1950s. I'm 75 and I still LOVE them. I do the glaze with powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice. SO GOOD!!!

      Reply
      • Chef Rodney

        December 03, 2022 at 8:36 am

        My wife's family has been making these for over 50 yrs as well. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Alexa

      December 17, 2022 at 10:02 am

      The flavor of these were fantastic, but I made them as cookies and they were entirely too soft in the middle after being lightly browned in the oven for 10 minutes. Maybe a lower temp for longer? Or more than just "lightly" browned?

      Reply

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