GF Holiday Fruit Bars

Jeri’s GF Holiday Fruit Bars
 
No tasteless candied fruit in this winter treat, only flavorful, dried California apricots, fresh cranberries and chunks of walnuts all surrounded by a moist cake flavored with ginger, cloves and all spice to get you in the holiday mood.
 
2 1/2 cups almond flour
½ cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons carrot powder*
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons butter (or avocado oil or grape seed oil)
1 cup plain Fage Greek yogurt at least 2% fat (I used 5%)
3 jumbo eggs (or 4 large)
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground all spice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon orange extract
¼ teaspoon orange essential oil ** OR 1 teaspoon fresh grated orange zest
1 Tablespoon Grand Marnier (or orange juice)
2 cups dried California apricots finely diced
½ cup fresh cranberries sliced
2½ cups walnuts hand broken into pieces
 
Prepare the fruit and nuts then toss them together so they’re evenly mixed. Set aside.
 
Preheat oven to 350°
 
Coat 13 X 9 inch, non-stick cake pan with butter, put parchment paper on bottom, butter the parchment paper (If you don’t have a non-stick pan then use parchment paper on the sides as well.)
In a large bowl combine melted butter, sugar, eggs, yogurt, salt, spices, extract and Grand Marnier then mix till fluffy. (1 used an electric hand mixer) Mix in ½ cup of the almond flour and the baking soda. Fold in the rest of the almond flour. Mix till combined then fold in the fruit and nut mixture. Spoon into prepared pan. Mixture is very thick. Smooth and level the top with a spatula before baking)
Bake 25-40 min (note: Check with a tooth pick. The almond flour makes it look brown on the outside before it’s done)
Allow to cool for a few minutes then run a knife or spatula around pan before turning out cake.
 
Wonderful warm or cold. Eat plain or spread with cream cheese
Refrigerate leftovers. Or freeze slices that have been individually wrapped in plastic wrap and then placed in a zip-lock bag.
 
**Zongle makes an edible, organic wild orange essential oil (available on Amazon). I don’t keep fruit in my house because of the carbs so this works well for me. A drop or two in herb tea is also lovely.